Benefits of Proton Beam Therapy in Treating Lung Cancer

What is Proton Beam Therapy

Proton beam therapy is the most advanced form of radiation therapy that is administered on a mass of cancer in the body. This has proved to be a game changer in the treatment of different cancers and tumors. Protons are positively charged particles that are used for this technique. Targetting cancerous mass in the body can be difficult as traditional radiation therapy tends to leave an exit radiation dose on the tissues surrounding the cancerous mass. The proton beam therapy is different as there is almost no exit radiation dose on the neighboring tissue. This sets this therapy apart from its predecessor.

Proton beam therapy can also be controlled more precisely than other radiotherapies. The protons are controlled in such a way that their peak energy is deposited on the cancerous mass and not on the surrounding tissues. Lung cancers are very difficult to treat due to their complicated location. Lung cancers are located near the heart, spinal cord, and esophagus, these are very important parts of a person’s body, and operation near these parts can be risky as damage to them can cause more problems to the patient. Proton beam therapy comes as a viable solution for this problem as the therapy is non-toxic and very accurate.

Proton Therapy for lung Cancer

Cancer is a fatal disease. Treating lung cancer becomes even more difficult due to its position in the body. Usually, lung cancers are detected when they have reached an advanced stage, and treating them through medication is almost impossible. A mix of surgical and radiation therapy is used for the treatment of lung cancer. These interventions have their complications and downsides. X-ray therapy is the conventional form of radiation therapy that is used to treat cancers and tumors. However, this therapy has some disadvantages. X-ray therapy is not very accurate and can deposit its radiation on healthy cells and tissue of the body which leads to the tissues getting damaged. Other side effects include fatigue, hair loss in the area where the radiation hits, skin reactions, inflammation, vomiting, nausea, and more.

To avoid these side effects, proton beam therapy is used as it has limited side effects and does not affect the healthy neighboring cells and tissues in the body. Proton beam therapy has many advantages over the traditional radiation therapy.

Benefits of Proton Beam Therapy

• Because there is little to no exit dose, it is more effective.

• The radiation oncologist can manipulate the trajectory of the proton particles.

• Additionally, the beam's peak energy emission can be adjusted so that the tumor mass receives the greatest amount of radiation.

• The radiation does not affect the nearby tissue or organs.

• In contrast to radiation therapy using X-rays, there are fewer negative effects.

• The therapy takes less time to complete the whole therapy, it can be completed in a minute or two. After that, the patients can get back to their regular activities without any problems.

• It has higher long-term survival rates and is less harmful.

• Cancer that has come back again may be treated with it.

• Kids with cancers or tumors can be effectively treated through this therapy.

• Overall quality of life is increased with this therapy.

Proton beam therapy in India represents a significant advancement in the treatment of lung cancer, providing a precise, effective, and potentially less harmful option compared to conventional radiation therapy. Its ability to target tumors with high precision while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues makes it a valuable tool in the fight against lung cancer. As research continues and technology advances, proton beam therapy is poised to play an increasingly important role in improving outcomes and quality of life for lung cancer patients worldwide.