Proton therapy is effective in treating many types of cancers, as well as some non-cancerous tumors and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), which are tangles of blood vessels that sometimes occur in the brain or spinal cord. Only a doctor can help you determine the best treatment approach for you.
Who benefits most from proton therapy?
Many patients can benefit from proton therapy, including children. The precision of protons may be particularly beneficial for patients whose tumors are near critical organs or structures (such as the brain, bladder, rectum, heart or spinal cord), patients whose cancers have recurred, and patients who can’t tolerate any more X-ray radiation therapy.
Proton therapy can often be used in combination with chemotherapy, as a follow-up treatment to surgery and in combination with standard X-ray radiation. You should discuss combination therapy with a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist to decide the best treatment option.
