Prostate Cancer Page
Breast Cancer
- 99% Reduced radiation exposure to the heart
Source: MD Anderson - 96% Reduced radiation exposure to the other breast
Source: Bradley JA, Dagan R, Ho MW, Rutenberg M, Morris CG, Li Z, Mendenhall NP. Initial Report of a Prospective Dosimetric and Clinical Feasibility Trial Demonstrates the Potential of Protons to Increase the Therapeutic Ratio in Breast Cancer Compared With Photons. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2016 May; Vol. 95(1):411-21) - 81% Reduced radiation exposure to lungs
Source: MD Anderson
Lung
- 37% Increase in 5-year overall survival
Source: Baumann BC, Mitra N, Harton JG, et al. Comparative effectiveness of proton therapy versus photon therapy as part of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology poster session. June 1, 2019. - 63% Reduction in side effects
Source: Higgins KA, O’Connell K, Liu Y, et al. National Cancer Database Analysis of Proton Versus Photon
Radiation Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2017;97:128-137. - 57% Decrease in severe lung complication
Source: Sejpal S, Komaki R, Tsao A, Chang JY, Liao Z, Wei X. et al.Early Findings on Toxicity of Proton Beam Therapy with Concurrent Chemotherapy in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer. 2011;117:3004–3013. doi: 10.1002/cncr.25848.
Brain and CNS
- 50% reduction in secondary brain tumor from treatment
Source: MD Anderson - 31% increase in disease control for base of skull tumors
Source: MD Anderson - 51% reduction in average dose to the hippocampi (memory function) in treatment of meningiomas
Source: Boehling NS, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Feb 1;82(2):643-52
Head & Neck
ABOUT HEAD & NECK CANCER TREATMENT
A head or neck cancer diagnosis can be unsettling news as it has the potential to impact daily functions. In fact, there are an estimated 65,410 other individuals with head and neck cancers in the U.S. fighting to beat a similar diagnosis. Head and neck cancers are often found near critical structures like the spinal cord, optic nerve, esophagus, thyroid gland, voice box, jawbone or salivary glands, making choosing the right form of radiation treatment a key component of a patient’s quality of life.
- 50-60% reduction in need for feeding tubes
Source: MD Anderson - 58% reduction in grade 3+ side effects
Source: Baumann BC, Mitra N, Harton JG, et al. Comparative effectiveness of proton therapy versus photon therapy as part of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology poster session. June 1, 2019. - 98% dose reduction to the brain stem
Source: MD Anderson
Gastrointestinal
- 58% Increase in overall survival for Liver cancer patients
Source: MD Anderson - 41% Decrease in lung complications for Esophageal cancer patients
Source: MD Anderson - 20% Decrease in hospitalization rate for Esophageal cancer patients
Source: MD Anderson
FAQ
What proof is there that proton therapy works?
There are over 300 clinical studies assessing the clinical benefits of proton therapy for various tumors. In almost every instance proton therapy has been shown to be superior in some way to alternative forms of radiation therapy. For example, through proton therapy:
- There’s over a 50% reduction in the need for feeding tubes for head and neck cancer patients
Source: MD Anderson - There’s a 21-25% reduction in GI and GU side effects for prostate cancer patients
Source: 1. Pan, HY, et al. Comparative Toxicities and Cost of Intensity – Modulated Radiotherapy, Proton Radiation, and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Among Younger Men with Prostate Cancer. J Clin Oncol. March 18, 2018. - There’s up to a 90% reduction in radiation dose to the heart for breast cancer patients
Source: Sejpal S, Komaki R, Tsao A, Chang JY, Liao Z, Wei X. et al.Early Findings on Toxicity of Proton Beam Therapy with Concurrent Chemotherapy in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer. 2011;117:3004–3013. doi: 10.1002/cncr.25848.