Proton therapy (proton therapy) is the most modern method of treating various malignant neoplasms. It is very effective and, in addition, practically does not cause complications, thanks to which you quickly recover. Unfortunately, protonotherapy is not for everyone who is struggling with cancer. Find out what proton therapy is all about and who can benefit from it.

Proton therapy , also known as proton radiotherapy,hadron radiotherapyorprotonotherapy , is a type of radiotherapy which uses a beam of protons - positively charged particles that penetrate the skin into the tumor. Proton therapy is the most modern method of treating malignant neoplasms, which is characterized by exceptional effectiveness. In addition, the risk of complications after protonotherapy is very small, thanks to which you quickly recover.

Proton therapy - what is it?

Proton therapy uses a mega dose of 230 MeV (megaelectron volts) of proton radiation to destroy malignant neoplastic lesions. This is a much higher dose than in standard radiotherapy. However, these are not the only differences. During irradiation, protons are formed into a very narrow beam (the so-called pencil beam) and transferred - using 3D imaging - to a malignant tumor. The protons then damage the DNA of the cancer cell, making it impossible for the cancer cell to divide or even die. Due to the fact that the radiation beam reaches the tumor with high precision, the surrounding he althy tissues remain practically intact. Therefore, the risk of complications after protonotherapy is much lower than in the case of conventional therapy, and thus - you also recover faster.

Proton therapy for prostate cancer and more

The therapy is used primarily in patients with eyeball neoplasms. Thanks to it, in a patient with melanoma of the eyeball, it is possible to save the eye and the ability to see. In addition, protonotherapy can be used to remove certain cancers of the head and neck, in the area of ​​the spinal cord and pelvis. Proton radiotherapy is also used in the case of lymphomas, bone and tissue sarcomassoft, urological cancers - especially prostate and bladder cancers - as well as lung cancers and many others.

Worth knowing

Proton therapy in Poland -Bronowice Cyclotron Center ready to treat patients

Bronowice Cyclotron Center (CCB), which operates at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow - the first center in Poland offering proton radiotherapy - from Monday, October 3, 2016, is ready to treat cancer patients. The center was opened in October 2015, i.e. a year ago, yet it did not admit patients.

According to the expertise of the national consultant, the Center can treat approx. 90 adults and approx. 40 children annually.

Proton therapy - who is it for?

This state-of-the-art method of treating malignant neoplasms is intended mainly for patients in whom conventional irradiation cannot be used, because the neoplasm is located in particularly hard-to-reach places (and therefore cannot be removed with previously available methods). too deeply located, too close to important organs (sensitive to damage) or when conventional therapy exposes the patient to serious complications.

It is estimated that 10-15 percent of proton radiotherapy may benefit. cancer patients who require radiation therapy.

Proton therapy works especially for children, as it allows to spare a young, developing organism. Traditional irradiation carries the risk of developing a secondary cancer or underdevelopment of its organs in a child.

It is worth knowing that protonotherapy is not an independent method of cancer treatment - it can be combined with surgical treatment, chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy or other radiotherapeutic methods.

Proton therapy - is it effective?

The effectiveness of proton therapy has been tested on approximately 100 patients with melanoma of the eyeball. It turned out to be very high: in 95-98 percent. patients, the neoplasm was removed without any problems.

This will be useful to you

Proton therapy will be in the guaranteed benefits basket. Neoplasms whose treatment with proton therapy will be financed by the National He alth Fund are:

  • neoplasms of the skull base and spinal cord area in adults
  • fibroids of soft tissues and bones in children
  • cancer of the paranasal sinuses
  • germ cell tumors requiring irradiation of the cerebrospinal axis
  • highly differentiated gliomas

Proton therapy (proton therapy) - the first cyclotron center in Poland in Krakow. "It's powerfula tool to fight cancer "

Source: x-news.pl/TVN24

Category:

Oncology