Proton Therapy or Proton Beam Therapy

Proton therapy is a relatively new treatment, and usually patients are required to travel to find a specialized center. There are centers located around the world, and you can contact the Mozocare Care Team if you wish to find the best option for you.

Before proton therapy, the case must be examined by a specialist to determine if the patient is a suitable candidate for treatment. The treatment is only recommended for cancers which have not spread to other areas of the body, as the proton therapy can only target tumors which are contained in one area. 

In order to prepare, patients may be advised to send their previous medical reports and scans so that the specialist can assess them. In some cases, the specialist will want to see the patient, and perform an up-to-date cancer staging.,

Proton therapy is performed in a specialized, purpose-built theater. Before the treatment begins, the patient will undergo an MRI scan or CT scan to check the position of the tumor. Depending on the type of cancer and the area being targeted, the specialist may apply a device to prevent the patient from moving. Once the patient is in position, the specialist will leave the room so that the proton beam therapy can begin.

The proton beams are delivered in such a way to target the tumor, layer by layer, to a minute level of detail. Depending on the size and position of the tumor, this should last around 15 minutes. In this time, the team will be able to communicate with you via a sound and video link-up.

Anesthesia No anesthesia is required, and the patient should not feel pain during the treatment. Procedure duration The Proton Therapy takes 15 to 30 minutes. 

Particle therapy facilities in clinical operation (last update: July 2020)

* S/C/SC = Synchrotron (S) or Cyclotron (C) or SynchroCyclotron (SC)

** with pencil beam scanning

*** with spread beam and pencil beam scanning

**** degraded beam

Source: https://www.ptcog.ch/