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Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is a type of radiation treatment that uses high-powered energy beams to treat cancer and certain non-cancerous tumors.
Proton therapy uses energy from the positively charged particles, known as protons to kill the cancer cells.
Protons are larger particles than the ones used in regular radiation, and therefore do not exit the tumor after the delivery of the energy to enter the healthy tissue on the other side. Proton therapy, therefore, causes less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
Proton therapy is usually done to treat the following types of cancers:
- Breast cancer
- Eye melanoma
- Cancer in children
- Brain tumors
- Esophageal cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Lung cancer
- Liver cancer
- Tumors at the base of the skull
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Sarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Pituitary gland tumors
- Tumors of the spine
The following diagnostic tests are recommended before a proton therapy procedure:
- Physical examination: The doctor evaluates the physical health of the patient. The patient’s medical history and symptoms are noted
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests like MRI scans and CT scans may be performed to obtain clear images of the suspected organ having a tumor.
- Endoscopy: A tube with a camera on one end (endoscope) is used by the doctor to examine the organ internally.
- Blood tests: These tests help in detecting any medical disorders that may be present.
- Biopsy: The suspected tissue growth is surgically removed and sent to the laboratory for evaluation under the microscope. This helps in confirming if there are cancer cells present and the type of cancer cells that may be present.
- Proton therapy sessions are usually done five days a week for several weeks. Although in certain cases, one or few proton therapy sessions may be needed.
- Weekly CT scans may be required to check if the radiation dose given to the patient needs to be changed based on the changes seen in the size, shape, or weight of the tumor.
- The patient is first placed in his/her correct position according to the body markings made and with the help of imaging tests like x-rays and CT scans.
- Once the patient is in his/her correct position, the doctor and his team leave the operating room and go to an adjacent room, where they can monitor the patient and can still hear and see the patient.
- A machine called a gantry directs the proton beams at precise points on the body of the patient.
- Since the radiation source is from a machine outside the body, proton therapy is referred to as a type of external beam radiation therapy.
- The noise made by the gantry machine when it is turned on and delivers the proton therapy dose can be heard by the patient.
- The patient can however not feel anything when the radiation is being given.
- Each proton therapy session lasts for a few minutes. Although the entire procedure along with the preparation may take about 30 to 45 minutes.
Proton therapy may be associated with the following complications:
- Fatigue
- Loss of hair around the treatment area
- Skin redness around the treatment area
- Soreness around the treatment area
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea vomiting
- Digestion problems
- Most patients can go home on the same day following proton therapy.
- Some patients may develop side effects such as skin irritation and fatigue sometime after proton therapy sessions.
- Initially the patient may only have a few side effects. But, after several treatment sessions, the patient may have extreme fatigue.
- The patient may notice redness in the area where proton beams have been directed.
- Regular follow-ups and periodic imaging tests are recommended during and after proton therapy to check if cancer responds to treatment.
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Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is a type of radiation treatment that uses high-powered energy beams to treat cancer and certain non-cancerous tumors.
Proton therapy uses energy from the positively charged particles, known as protons to kill the cancer cells.
Protons are larger particles than the ones used in regular radiation, and therefore do not exit the tumor after the delivery of the energy to enter the healthy tissue on the other side. Proton therapy, therefore, causes less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
Purpose:
Proton therapy is generally recommended for the following reasons:
- For killing the cancer cells
- Before surgery, to shrink the size of the tumor
- To relieve pain and other symptoms associated with cancer
- After chemotherapy or surgery (other cancer treatments), to reduce the risk of cancer growing again
Symptoms
Proton therapy is usually done to treat the following types of cancers:
- Breast cancer
- Eye melanoma
- Cancer in children
- Brain tumors
- Esophageal cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Lung cancer
- Liver cancer
- Tumors at the base of the skull
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Sarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Pituitary gland tumors
- Tumors of the spine
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests are recommended before a proton therapy procedure:
- Physical examination: The doctor evaluates the physical health of the patient. The patient’s medical history and symptoms are noted
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests like MRI scans and CT scans may be performed to obtain clear images of the suspected organ having a tumor.
- Endoscopy: A tube with a camera on one end (endoscope) is used by the doctor to examine the organ internally.
- Blood tests: These tests help in detecting any medical disorders that may be present.
- Biopsy: The suspected tissue growth is surgically removed and sent to the laboratory for evaluation under the microscope. This helps in confirming if there are cancer cells present and the type of cancer cells that may be present.
Treatment
- Proton therapy sessions are usually done five days a week for several weeks. Although in certain cases, one or few proton therapy sessions may be needed.
- Weekly CT scans may be required to check if the radiation dose given to the patient needs to be changed based on the changes seen in the size, shape, or weight of the tumor.
- The patient is first placed in his/her correct position according to the body markings made and with the help of imaging tests like x-rays and CT scans.
- Once the patient is in his/her correct position, the doctor and his team leave the operating room and go to an adjacent room, where they can monitor the patient and can still hear and see the patient.
- A machine called a gantry directs the proton beams at precise points on the body of the patient.
- Since the radiation source is from a machine outside the body, proton therapy is referred to as a type of external beam radiation therapy.
- The noise made by the gantry machine when it is turned on and delivers the proton therapy dose can be heard by the patient.
- The patient can however not feel anything when the radiation is being given.
- Each proton therapy session lasts for a few minutes. Although the entire procedure along with the preparation may take about 30 to 45 minutes.
Risks
Proton therapy may be associated with the following complications:
- Fatigue
- Loss of hair around the treatment area
- Skin redness around the treatment area
- Soreness around the treatment area
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea vomiting
- Digestion problems
After Procedure
- Most patients can go home on the same day following proton therapy.
- Some patients may develop side effects such as skin irritation and fatigue sometime after proton therapy sessions.
- Initially the patient may only have a few side effects. But, after several treatment sessions, the patient may have extreme fatigue.
- The patient may notice redness in the area where proton beams have been directed.
- Regular follow-ups and periodic imaging tests are recommended during and after proton therapy to check if cancer responds to treatment.
FAQ Section
A. Proton therapy is a type of radiation treatment in which high-powered energy beams, known as protons (positively charged particles), are used to kill cancer cells and some non-cancerous types of tumors as well.
A. Proton therapy is a type of external beam radiation therapy, that is, the radiation beams are provided by a machine or source outside the body. It works in the following way:
Protons are used in this type of treatment instead of x-rays, which are the common form of energy beams used for radiation therapy.
Regular radiation therapy procedure involves the energy beam entering inside the body through the tumor and out on the other side.
In the case of proton therapy, the protons used are larger particles than those used in regular radiation. They release most of their energy within the tumor itself. This burst of energy appears on a graph in the form of a Bragg peak.
After delivering the energy to the tumor, the protons usually do not exit the tumor to enter the healthy tissue on the other side.
This leads to less radiation exposure and potential damage to the surrounding healthy tissues than conventional radiation therapy.
A. A proton therapy session may be needed in the following cases:
To kill the cancer cells
To relieve symptoms, like pain, associated with cancer
To shrink the size of the tumor before surgery
To reduce the risk of cancer growing again after surgery or chemotherapy (other forms of cancer treatments)
A. The following types of cancers may be treated using proton therapy:
- Brain tumors
- Breast cancer
- Eye melanoma
- Cancer in children
- Esophageal cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Lung cancer
- Liver cancer
- Tumors at the skull base
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lymphoma
- Sarcoma
- Pituitary gland tumors
- Tumors of the spine
A. Proton therapy is done by a Radiation Oncologist.
A. The following diagnostic tests may be performed before a proton therapy session:
Physical examination: The doctor checks the physical health of the patient. The patient’s symptoms and medical history are noted.
Imaging tests: Imaging tests like x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans help in obtaining clear images of the suspected cancerous organ.
Endoscopy: A tube with a camera on one end (endoscope) is used in this procedure to examine the organ internally.
Blood tests: These tests help in the diagnosis of certain medical disorders.
Biopsy: The suspected tissue growth is surgically excised and sent to the laboratory for evaluation under the microscope. This helps in confirming or ruling out the presence of cancer cells present and the type of cancer cells that may be present.
A. The following preparation is needed before a proton therapy session:
- Inform your doctor about any pre-existing medical conditions that you have.
- Inform the doctor if you have any allergies.
- If you are taking any herbs, supplements, or medications, inform the doctor about the same.
- Stop smoking as soon as possible.
- The doctor will tell you which medicines to stop and which medicines to take before the therapy session.
- You will first be positioned on the examination table in a comfortable position.
- You will need to stay still during the treatment.
- Restraints and cushions are used to place you in a comfortable position and help you stay still during the session.
- The area of the body that is likely to receive the radiation is marked using a temporary marker or permanent tattoos.
- An imaging test like an x-ray or CT scan is now performed. These tests ensure that you may in the same precise position during each subsequent proton therapy session.
- This procedure helps the doctor determine the exact position of the patient for each proton therapy session and is known as simulation.
A. A proton therapy session is performed in the following way:
- You will be placed in your correct position according to the body markings made and using imaging tests like x-rays and CT scans.
- Once you are in your correct position, the doctor will leave the operating room and go to an adjacent room where you can be heard and seen, and the doctor can monitor your treatment.
- A machine called a gantry will direct the proton beams at the precise points of your body.
- The radiation is directed from a machine outside the body and therefore proton therapy is referred to as a type of external beam radiation therapy.
- The noise made by the gantry machine when it is turned on and delivers the proton therapy dose can be heard by you.
- However, you will not feel anything when the radiation is being delivered.
- Weekly CT scans are required to check if the radiation dose given to you needs to be changed depending on the changes seen in the size, shape, or weight of the tumor.
- Each proton therapy session usually lasts for a few minutes. Although the entire procedure along with the preparation may take approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
- Proton therapy sessions are usually done five days a week for several weeks. Although in certain cases, one or few proton therapy sessions may be enough to treat cancer.
A. The following are the post-procedure steps following proton therapy:
You can usually go home on the same day after proton therapy.
You may notice side effects like skin irritation and fatigue sometime after the proton therapy sessions.
In the initial period after proton therapy, you may only have a few side effects. But, after multiple treatment sessions, you may feel extremely fatigued.
You may have some redness in the area where proton beams have been directed.
You will be recommended to have regular follow-ups and periodic imaging tests after proton therapy sessions to check if the cancer is responding well to treatment.
A. Proton therapy could lead to the following side effects:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Digestion issues
- Fatigue
- Skin irritation
- Redness of the skin
- Soreness
- Hair loss in the treatment area
A. According to a study, approximately 46% of the patients undergoing proton therapy were cancer-free after three years and 56% of the patients were alive after three years of proton therapy treatment.