Proton Therapy: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

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.

Proton therapy is a treatment option for cancer and certain noncancerous tumors. It can be administered as a standalone treatment or combined with other therapies, such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Proton therapy may be particularly beneficial if cancer persists or recurs after traditional X-ray radiation.

Conditions treated with proton therapy include:

• Brain tumors
• Breast cancer
• Pediatric cancers
• Eye melanoma
• Esophageal cancer
• Head and neck cancers
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Lymphoma
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pituitary gland tumors
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcoma
• Spinal tumors
• Skull base tumors