A proton is a positively charged particle. At high Energy, protons can destroy cancer cells. Proton therapy is a highly precise radiation therapy treatment for tumors. It focuses most Energy on the Tumor itself with less radiation to surrounding healthy tissue.
Proton beam therapy destroys tumor cells. It uses protons to concentrate high energy beam on target tumors. The beam kills the tumor cells layer by layer, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
In regular radiation therapy, the entry and exit dose of radiation – the beam of Energy entering the body and then going out the other side after passing through the Tumor might affect healthy tissue. Protons are larger particles than those used in regular radiation to release more of their Energy within the Tumor itself. After delivering the Energy to the Tumor, the protons stop: They do not exit the Tumor and go into healthy tissue on the other side. Hence, proton therapy reduces radiation exposure and potential damage to healthy tissue, especially in sensitive areas such as the brain, eyes, spinal cord, heart, major blood vessels, and nerves.
Proton therapy is an outpatient procedure. Most patients are treated throughout several sessions. Depending on the size, the location, and the number of tumors. The patient will spend about 15 to 30 minutes in the treatment room. Usually, up to 60% less radiation can be delivered to the healthy tissues around the Tumor. This lowers the risk of radiation damage to these tissues. It may allow for a higher radiation dose to the Cancer’s tissue. This increases the chances that all of the tumor cells targeted by the proton therapy will be destroyed. It may cause fewer and less severe side effects such as low blood counts, fatigue, and nausea during and after treatment.
A large machine speeds up protons and creates Energy. The proton beam focuses this Energy into the body at the precise depth of the Tumor. It might move around your body and treat the Tumor from several positions.
Some more, Proton therapy can treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in children and adults.
It is beneficial for treating tumors that have not spread and are near essential parts of the body, like the brain and spinal cord. It is also used for treating children because it lessens the chance of harming healthy, growing tissue.