Proton therapy, also known as proton beam therapy, is a kind of radiation treatment that uses a precise beam of protons to target and eliminate tumor cells. Protons have distinct properties that enable doctors to more accurately aim radiation at the size and shape of the tumor. This focused approach helps minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue while destroying cancerous cells.

Proton therapy is useful in the treatment of lung cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, brain tumors, spinal tumors, and sarcomas, among other cancers.

Proton therapy has several benefits over conventional radiation therapy. Physicians can better control how much energy is transferred into malignant cells when using proton therapy. The radiation dose during proton therapy is delivered into the cells and thus does not damage the surrounding tissues.