Proton Beam Therapy

If you or someone you know has a cancer diagnosis or may have one in the future, you should understand the potential of proton therapy. It is not well known, so this is important information. Proton therapy has the following advantages:
1. Greater accuracy deep within the body
2. Three-dimensional, conforming to the shape of the tumor
3. Less radiation for the same or better result as x-rays
4. Few side effects
5. Less destruction to healthy tissue

Unfortunately, for reasons we will discuss in these essays, your doctor may not recommend it, and may even recommend against it. You need to be proactive and make your own decision.

Protons are particles from the nucleus of hydrogen atoms, accelerated in a cyclotron and directed toward the cancer target. Proton therapy resulted from the concentrated effort to advance nuclear physics during World War II to develop an atomic bomb. It has been around for more than 70 years, but had to wait for other supportive technologies to develop in the past few decades. For more of the history, click here: HISTORY

Both protons and x-rays work by damaging the DNA of the cancer cells, thereby keeping them from reproducing. Protons, however, are more than 1,800 times the weight of x-rays and physically do more damage. In addition, protons stop at the target and release a burst of destructive energy, whereas x-rays hit the target in passing, continuing out the other side of the body.  

X-ray radiation (gamma rays, photons) has essentially no mass. So when they enter the body, they are refracted and absorbed. As a result, to get 100% of the dose desired for the tumor, it may be necessary to begin with 160% of the dose to accommodate the energy lost en route. That means the tissue before the target gets a stronger dose than does the cancer itself. That’s not good. Even worse, the X-rays then continue all the way out the other side of the body.

One way to address this problem is to direct the x-rays from many directions, converging on the cancer. (See  illustration above.) This reduces the dose to some healthy tissue, but exposes a far greater area.

Protons enter the body at a lower dose and then release a burst of energy in the tumor, at which time they stop. This conforms far better to the target and exposes much less healthy tissue to radiation. As a result, patients experience fewer side effects. Patients! That’s us! Quality of life is important. Quite fascinating, the essay  on physics covers how and why proton therapy works
PHYSICS

Twice treated with proton therapy, this essay is not a theoretical discussion for me. For details of my experience, click here:
EXPERIENCE

Prostate cancer is one of the cancers most frequently treated with proton therapy. Other modalities include surgery and x-rays. Particularly overrated, surgery does not live up to its reputed claim to be the gold standard of treatments. For a comparison of proton therapy, surgery and x-rays, click here:
COMPARISON

Proton therapy treats  80% of all cancers. For more details, click here:
CANCERS TREATED

Proton therapy is generally more expensive than x-rays or other treatments. For that reason, insurance companies have resisted coverage. However, because of legal actions, state laws, research, and other efforts, the barriers they have erected are coming down. Learn more about insurance coverage here:
INSURANCE

The great promise of proton therapy led to predictions of great demand. However, many proton centers do not operate at full capacity, and some have been forced into financial reorganization. To learn about some of the bumps in the road that have delayed acceptance of proton therapy, click here:
ISSUES 


Proton therapy continues to advance and expand in many promising directions. One day cancer treatment may take only a single session of less than one minute. Click here to read about exciting current and future advances:
FUTURE

I have written several books about proton therapy, with newer versions replacing earlier ones. Print format has serious limitations in cost, as the price is determined by the number of pages and color illustrations. Electronic format, however, has no such limitations. The book can be hundreds of pages, with unlimited illustrations, links, and more. Therefore, I recommend the digital format. For more about my books, go here:
BOOKS

If you are interested in pursuing proton therapy, one way is to contact a center that offers that technology. Not only will their websites have an abundance of information, they will respond to you personally and answer your questions. There are some considerations in how to choose a proton center. Click here for suggestions, as well as how to find a comprehensive list of centers.
CENTERS

I have provided on this website the essential facts regarding proton therapy. Click here for other reliable sources to consult.
LINKS

PLEASE NOTE Everything I say reflects my personal experience, my opinion and the result of my research and study of proton therapy. I have no ax to grind. I am not selling anything. In fact, as a patient advocate, I tell it like I see it. Some people may take exception to my comments, or feel unduly criticized. So be it. Let them write their own books. I AM NOT GIVING MEDICAL ADVICE. The purpose of this website is purely educational.

If you are inspired to look into proton therapy, I have succeeded in my mission. I wish I could tell you to ask your doctor, but that rarely leads to good advice. So, I suggest you contact one or more proton therapy centers directly and have them give you a second (or third) opinion and an evaluation whether proton therapy might be the most advantageous treatment for your cancer. It costs nothing, and could change your life. It did mine.

Thanks for your interest in proton therapy. If you have specific medical questions, contact a proton therapy center. If you would like to discuss my personal experience and opinions, or just want someone to support you in your cancer journey, I invited you to email me.

Robert Ferre
robert@robertferre.com

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