Are You Searching for Non-Invasive Advanced Cancer Treatment Options? Learn More About Proton Beam Radiation

 

Advancement in treatment continue to be made to address various types of cancer. Some of these include non-invasive cancer treatment such as proton therapy, or proton beam radiation. This particular type of treatment can be a welcome alternative to more invasive procedures, such as surgery. It may also to a preferred treatment in lieu of traditional radiation therapy.

What Is Cancer Proton Therapy?

While proton therapy is a form of radiation, it provides a more targeted approach than conventional radiation. Each session will usually last between 15 to 45 minutes. Since most of this time is spent setting up the apparatus and preparing the individual for treatment, it usually just takes a minute or two to actually deliver the protons to the tumor.

Instead of continuing past a tumor to surrounding tissues and organs, proton radiation is directed to a specific spot. Due to this targeted approach, radiation rarely continues on to the heart. There is also an average of 50% less radiation that reaches the lungs. When compared with X-rays, there is a 59% decrease in radiation to gastrointestinal structures with proton therapy.

What Types of Cancer Can Proton Therapy Treat?

Proton therapy has been used for a variety of cancers. This includes brain cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and prostate cancer. It’s important to note that it has been particularly effective with the treatment of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that when men choose this treatment protocol, they experienced a reduced risk of becoming impotent. This was the case with 94% of the participants that reported they continued to be sexually active following their proton therapy for prostate cancer.

Learn More About Cancer Proton Therapy

If you are looking for non-invasive treatment options, you may be interested in learning more about cancer proton therapy. When you speak with your oncologist about treatment options, ask them whether you’re a good candidate for proton beam radiation. Since there were over 30 particle therapy centers being constructed on a worldwide basis during the early part of 2015, there’s a good chance that one of these centers is located in your vicinity.