Proton Beam Therapy?

lizziek
lizziek Member Posts: 27
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I've been doing some research on radiation treatment and found a couple of references to proton beam therapy. Only a few places in the country but lots more planned.

Anyone been treated with Proton Beam Therapy instead of IMRT? Would like to hear how it went (side effects).

Lizzie

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Lizzie
    I did not use it becuase I did not know about it when I did my first treatment.

    If you can do Proton Therapy I suggest you do it as it is a little eraser on the body then regular radiation treatment. Talk it over with your oncal doc to see what he thinks.



    Hope It works for you
    Hondo
  • J9nadeau@gmail.com
    J9nadeau@gmail.com Member Posts: 1
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi Lizzie
    I did not use it becuase I did not know about it when I did my first treatment.

    If you can do Proton Therapy I suggest you do it as it is a little eraser on the body then regular radiation treatment. Talk it over with your oncal doc to see what he thinks.



    Hope It works for you
    Hondo

    Proton Beam Therapy
    I completed Proton Beam at the Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville Florida. I would say get Proton if you can. It allows docs to focus the radiation much more than photon radiation. Insurance only covers Proton for certain types of cancers like mine which was near my brain, which is why my docs suggested it.
  • NPCPaul
    NPCPaul Member Posts: 8
    #4
    Hi Lizzie
    Hi Lizzie,

    I was treated with Proton Bean therapy WITH IMRT Photons. I had NPC that spread to my lymph nodes around my neck area.

    I got proton beam therapy and then on the same day went over to get IMRT for my neck area.

    I would definitely do Proton. Not many facilities in the world has it available.

    The radiation dosage is the same as photons, so it's effectiveness is the same, however, proton beam radiation is very targeted. The beams are more focused, it will penetrate your body to a pre-determined distance and stop, vs photons, it will continue to go past the intended area of focus. The net effect to it is that you will have less radiation damage to areas that you don't want damaged.

    It has been a year since I finished treatment for my stage IV NPC. The only side affect i have is that I need a bit of water to accompany my food when eating. I contribute some of that to the proton therapy.

    Paul
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    NPCPaul said:

    Hi Lizzie
    Hi Lizzie,

    I was treated with Proton Bean therapy WITH IMRT Photons. I had NPC that spread to my lymph nodes around my neck area.

    I got proton beam therapy and then on the same day went over to get IMRT for my neck area.

    I would definitely do Proton. Not many facilities in the world has it available.

    The radiation dosage is the same as photons, so it's effectiveness is the same, however, proton beam radiation is very targeted. The beams are more focused, it will penetrate your body to a pre-determined distance and stop, vs photons, it will continue to go past the intended area of focus. The net effect to it is that you will have less radiation damage to areas that you don't want damaged.

    It has been a year since I finished treatment for my stage IV NPC. The only side affect i have is that I need a bit of water to accompany my food when eating. I contribute some of that to the proton therapy.

    Paul

    Hi Paul
    Welcome to CSN I too am NPC, hope you stay and become a part of the Family.

    Hondo
  • NPCPaul
    NPCPaul Member Posts: 8
    #6
    Hondo said:

    Hi Paul
    Welcome to CSN I too am NPC, hope you stay and become a part of the Family.

    Hondo

    Thanks Hondo
    Thanks Hondo. I've lurked for a few days in the forums when I was first diagnosed with NPC back in 2009. However, I decided that I needed to step away from reading about anything and everything that can happen to me.

    I'm in a better state of mind now, and hopefully I can contribute and share my experiences with anyone who needs the support.

    Paul
  • Azzamsaid
    Azzamsaid Member Posts: 3
    #7
    I took radiotherapy twice....

    I took radiotherapy twice.... Can i take Proton therapy? 

  • JBBW
    JBBW Member Posts: 30
    #8
    You can only take it if it's available.

    The original poster was right about it being at limited locations in the US.  My information isn't current but I bet you would need to live near one of the locations for them to accept you.  You probably should ask your doctor if they know about one in your area. 

    Good luck.   I hope you find what you need and it works for you.

  • Lbarringer
    Lbarringer Member Posts: 1
    #9
    Proton beam

    Please discuss side effects with your doctor. The literature does not document these well. Folks I know have experienced pituitary gland damage, hearing impairment, and double vision from sixth nerve damage .  Remember that the radiation can harm anything in the pathway to the tumor. It is helpful that It targets the lesion and has little effect on tissues beyond the site. 

     

    regarding proton beam after traditional radiation; the radiation oncologist would need to determine risks. Radiation can cause cancer years later so the calculate a lifetime dose that the can safely give. 

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