What are some of the side effects from proton therapy?
Side effects will depend on the patient’s age, medical history, diagnosis, disease size and location. Some patients may receive chemotherapy in conjunction with proton therapy; some will receive much lower radiation doses than others and therefore symptoms will vary significantly. Common symptoms include temporary hair loss and skin reactions in the direct path of the radiation. Fatigue is also associated treatment to large areas.

How do I coordinate my proton treatment appointments?
The first few treatments are generally assigned based on available openings. At the time of the first few treatments you should let inform the radiation therapists of any treatment time preferences. However, you should be aware that scheduling is often limited by technical factors such as the need to use specific configurations of the treatment machine. Also, appointments are scheduled for many other patients with their own desires for treatment appointment times. An example of limited scheduling on one of the gantry rooms is the need to treat pediatric patients under anesthesia. A block is reserved in the morning where anesthesiologists and their equipment are available and it would be unfeasible to intersperse these treatments with others.

Why does it take longer to treat me with the proton therapy compared to conventional radiation therapy?
In order to ensure a minimal amount of radiation to normal structures we conform the proton beam very tightly to the target. Diagnostic quality pre-treatment x-ray and ultrasound imaging allows us to keep the margins very tight. This level of imaging is generally not done for conventional therapy. The actual treatment time, when the radiation is turned on, is similar for proton therapy and conventional x-ray therapy.

Why do some patients receive both conventional x-ray therapy as well as proton therapy?
The Center provides a limited resource. Managing the potential benefits from proton therapy is done on an individual case basis. In some circumstances it is advantageous to combine these therapies just like it is sometime advantageous to combine radiation therapy with surgery and/or chemotherapy. The goal is to provide the optimal access to patients who would benefit from proton radiation therapy. With experience using both high-quality x-ray and proton therapy, our physicians are well equipped to determine the appropriate combination, which is optimal for patient’s individual treatments.

How do proton beams destroy cancer cells?
When protons interact with electrons in the atoms of cancer cells, they impart energy to the electrons, causing them to leave the atom and undergo a series of interactions (ionizing events) that result in damage to the DNA of the cancer cell. Damaging the DNA destroys specific cell functions, which include the ability to divide or proliferate. A cancer cell's ability to repair molecular injury is frequently inferior to that of cells in normal tissues. As a result, cancer cells accumulate permanent damage and subsequent cell death occurs. As the cell dies, so does the tumor.

How does proton therapy differ from traditional radiation therapy?
Traditional radiation therapy affects everything in its path, so doctors have to limit the dose delivered to the tumor in order to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue. With proton therapy, however, the beam is accelerated to specific energies that determine how deeply in the body protons will deposit their maximum energy. Protons enter the body with a low dose of radiation, which increases when the beam slows down within the designated target tumor and then protons stop. The combined effect is greater precision in targeting the tumor with a more potent dose of radiation.

How accurate is the delivery of proton beams into the body?
The accuracy and precision of proton therapy for treatment delivery is approximately one millimeter.

How many patients worldwide have been treated with protons to date?
In excess of 40,000.

How safe is the procedure for patients? Are there any side effects?
Proton therapy is safe because the proton is directed precisely to the tumor, and undesirable side effects, such as loss of appetite, diarrhea and headache, can be avoided and enables a patient to maintain a relatively active lifestyle throughout treatment.

Is the treatment painless? How long does it take?
Each treatment is quick and painless. While the actual delivery of the proton beam to the patient lasts (on average) only about a minute, the time spent in the treatment room will be about 15-20 minutes; in some cases more time may be needed for precise patient positioning and equipment adjustments. Like conventional radiation therapy, proton therapy treatments will take anywhere from a few days and up to an average of five to seven weeks depending on the tumor

How long does the proton radiation stay in the body?
Proton radiation, once delivered, has a very short life. Upon completion of treatment the patient is able to leave the treatment room without any risk (including radiation exposure to others).

Is proton therapy effective for children with cancer?
Because children are growing, their bodies are extremely sensitive to the harmful effects of radiation. Further, children’s long-term survival makes them more vulnerable to secondary tumors caused by exposure of normal tissue to radiation. For these reasons, proton therapy is the preferred form of radiation therapy in the care of children.