Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is an effective form of radiation therapy for many types of tumors. It destroys cancer cells by preventing them from dividing and growing, just like standard X-ray radiation, but offers many important benefits. The most significant one is that patients experience fewer short- and long-term side effects. Unlike x-rays, protons can be precisely controlled so that most of the radiation ends up directly in the tumor so less healthy tissue is damaged during treatment. Proton therapy also lowers the occurrence of secondary tumors which can occur many years after receiving radiation treatment.
Proton Therapy is particularly beneficial when tumors are located near critical organs or structures, such as the brain, heart or spinal cord. It is also an important treatment for children because their bodies are still growing and are more sensitive to the undesirable effects caused by radiation. The precision of protons reduces the risks of developmental and growth problems, as well as a potential reduction in IQ in pediatric patients.
Proton therapy is effective in treating many types of cancers as well as non-cancerous tumors. Tumor types that could often benefit from proton therapy include:
- Brain
- Head and Neck
- Base of Skull
- Central Nervous System
- Prostate
- Pediatric
- Tumor Near Spine
- Lung
ROCL will be the first physician group in Illinois to treat patients with proton therapy. ROCL physicians have exclusive privileges to provide proton therapy at the CDH Proton Center, a ProCure Center, which is scheduled to begin treating patients in early 2011. If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are considering proton therapy as a treatment option prior to the opening of the center in Illinois, you can visit http://www.procure.com/il for more information.
