Proton therapy: Advancing treatment precision for patients with cancer

Proton therapy is a highly precise form of radiation therapy that directly targets a patient’s tumor while limiting exposure of nearby normal tissues to radiation. This can be especially valuable for children with cancer, for patients who have previously received radiation, and for patients with tumors near certain sensitive areas like the eyes, brainstem or spine. Not all patients will benefit from proton therapy. Your doctor can help determine what is right for your care.

How does proton therapy work?

Proton therapy directs cancer-fighting radiation from outside the body to pinpoint tumor locations inside the body. Traditional radiation uses X-rays that travel to a tumor and continue out the other side of the body. Proton therapy delivers radiation to a tumor site and stops there, limiting the dose to any tissues that lie beyond the tumor. Every proton therapy treatment plan is customized to the individual patient.

A great option for children

Children with cancer, in many cases, may be good candidates for proton therapy. Because children are still growing, any radiation that passes through healthy tissue could potentially affect the growth and development of their healthy tissues. Proton therapy can minimize the chance of unwanted side effects as they grow into adulthood.

Upright proton therapy another new treatment option for patients

UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center has begun treating select patients with proton therapy as one of approximately four dozen cancer treatment sites around the country to offer proton therapy. The program plans to grow and will become among the first sites in the nation to offer an exciting new option known as upright proton therapy.

Traditional proton therapy is delivered to a patient lying on their back or stomach. Upright radiation allows a patient to sit and receive their radiation treatment in a position that will be more comfortable for some patients. For many patients, other health issues, such as certain heart or lung conditions, can make it difficult to lie flat on the table for the duration of treatment. By sitting upright, these patients can be comfortably positioned, allowing their heart and lungs to function more naturally. Upright treatment positioning also allows for more natural communication between the patient and their health care providers.

Each patient is taken into a special treatment room where they can talk to their doctor and the treatment technician. Both can see and hear the patient from an adjacent room.

Once treatment begins, a proton beam delivers cancer-destroying radiation with utmost precision to spare surrounding tissue. The proton beam is invisible and the radiation experience is similar to getting a CT scan or an x-ray — the patient doesn’t feel anything as the treatment is delivered. While appointment durations can vary, most treatment sessions last approximately 30-60 minutes.

Many different cancers can be treated with proton therapy, from brain cancer to head and neck cancer.

Limits of proton therapy

As exciting as it sounds, proton therapy is not a one-size-fits-all treatment option. It’s not for every cancer patient or even all patients who need radiation therapy. Rather, proton therapy is another tool in the toolbox, along with immunotherapy, chemotherapy, other forms of radiation therapy and surgery. Proton therapy can be used if it’s the right fit for a given patient.

It's understandable that exciting, new treatments come with a range of questions from logistics to insurance. We're here to make sure you have the answers you need before, during and after treatment.

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