Proton Therapy

Proton therapy delivers a precise radiation treatment while destroying cancer cells and minimizing damage to healthy tissue. This reduces side effects and lessens the risk of developing complications from treatment in later life. Proton therapy is at least as effective as conventional radiation therapy, but with fewer side effects. In some cases, proton therapy is not only the best but also the only option.

Studies have shown proton therapy to be effective in treating many types of tumors, including tumors of the prostate, brain, head and neck, central nervous system, lung, and gastrointestinal system as well as cancers that cannot be removed completely by surgery.

Proton therapy is often the preferred option for treating solid tumors in children because protons can be controlled precisely so there is less radiation of normal tissues, helping prevent serious complications and lessening the chance of secondary tumors.

Proton therapy research is ongoing and has shown promising results in the treatment of other tumors. Proton therapy shows proven results in treating prostate cancer, brain, head and neck, base-of-skull tumors, lung tumors, tumors near the spine, pediatric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and melanoma of the eye.

In addition to cancer, proton therapy has been effectively used to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, macular degeneration, arteriovenous malformations, severe rheumatologic conditions and seizure disorders.