Proton Therapy for Cancer Treatment
proton therapy FAQ
How does proton beam therapy work?
When it reaches the cancer, the proton beam slows down and stops. The protons then release a large amount of energy, which damages the cancer cells. But there is less damage to normal cells beyond the cancer. You can watch a video about how proton beam therapy works on the NHS England website.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of proton therapy?
The chief advantage of proton therapy over other types of external beam radiotherapy is that the dose of protons is deposited over a narrow range of depth; hence in minimal entry, exit, or scattered radiation dose to healthy nearby tissues.
What is proton therapy?
(March 2018) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) In medicine, proton therapy, or proton radiotherapy, is a type of particle therapy that uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue, most often to treat cancer.
How does proton therapy work for cancer?
Like other types of radiation therapy for cancer, proton therapy works by delivering radiation to a tumor. It uses protons, while other radiation therapy uses x-rays. A proton is a positively charged particle. At high energy, protons can destroy cancer cells. Doctors may use proton therapy alone.
What is proton beam therapy?
Proton beam therapy is a type of external beam radiotherapy . Proton beam therapy is only suitable for a small number of people with certain cancer types. It is used to help reduce the risk of long-term side effects that can sometimes develop after standard radiotherapy.
Can Proton Therapy treat cancer?
Proton therapy may also be used if the cancer remains or comes back after traditional X-ray radiation. Clinical trials are investigating proton therapy as a treatment for several other types of cancer. Proton therapy can cause side effects as the cancer cells die or when the energy from the proton beam damages healthy tissue near the tumor.
Is proton beam therapy available in the UK?
Proton beam therapy is also available in the UK at private treatment centres. This is not funded by the NHS. Proton beam therapy may cause fewer side effects for some cancers, but we do not know if it is better than standard radiotherapy or other treatments. Proton beam therapy has only been used to treat a few different types of cancer in the UK.
proton therapy References
If you want to know more about proton therapy, consider exploring links below:
What Is Proton Therapy
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_therapy
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/proton-therapy/about/pac-20384758
- https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/types-of-treatment/radiotherapy/external-beam-radiotherapy/proton-beam-therapy
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/proton-therapy
- https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/proton-therapy
- https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/diagnosis-treatment/care-centers-clinics/proton-therapy-center/what-is-proton-therapy.html
- https://www.healthline.com/health/lung-cancer/proton-therapy-for-lung-cancer
- https://www.oncolink.org/cancer-treatment/radiation/types-of-radiation-therapy/proton-therapy/overviews-of-proton-therapy/all-about-proton-therapy
- https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/cancer-treatments/radiation-therapy/what-proton-therapy
- https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-proton-therapy
Proton Therapy Information
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