As ubiquitous as it has become in our society, Cancer is still a terrifying disease. However, modern cancer patients have more to be optimistic about than ever before. Cancer causes and treatments are constantly being researched. The survival rates, as well as quality of life are improving in patients with prostate cancer, rare eye or bone cancers, and pediatric cancers.
Proton Therapy
Cancer treatment options are varied. Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy has been a powerful technique in the past. IMRT uses photons to deliver radiation to a malignant tumor or parts of a tumor. The tumor is digitally mapped-out and then strategically attacked, hit by beams from a few different angles. This maximizes the effect of the radiation but, unfortunately, affects surrounding healthy tissue.
Naturally, care providers strive to affect as little surrounding tissue as possible, but the beam’s scattering can cause problems. If the targeted tumor is very close to eyes, brain matter, reproductive organs or the heart, etc. the radiation that drifts from the targeted beam can harm these sensitive areas.
There are other options, however. Cancer treatment is always evolving. Proton Therapy is an exciting technology becoming increasingly more popular as patients discover its effectiveness. Simply explained, the beams from proton therapy are more accurate.
The photons used in proton therapy are heavier than in IMRT. This means that when aimed into the body the beam of radiation has less scattering. A more accurate beam means that doctors can use proton therapy to treat areas that are sensitive or neighbors of sensitive areas.
Proton therapy can also be a great option for pediatric cancer patients. With children, unnecessary tissue damage is exponentially problematic. The excess radiation can stunt growth in a still-developing body. Proton therapy greatly minimizes these risks.
Proton therapy has also been very valuable in the fight against prostate cancer. Approximately 240,890 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year. Prostate cancer is the second most deadly cancer for men, so the development of proton therapy couldn’t come soon enough.
Prostate cancer is a perfect example of a cancer that requires delicate and accurate treatment. Because the affected area is so close to a reproductive organ excess radiation can cause incontinence or severe types of erectile dysfunction. A more accurate and precisely controlled beam of photons can navigate around sensitive tissues and target only the area that needs to be treated. Proton therapy’s extreme accuracy is what makes the treatment so valuable to this type of cancer.
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