Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is an effective form of radiation therapy for many types of tumors. It destroys cancer cells by preventing them from dividing and growing, just like standard X-ray radiation, but offers many important benefits. The most significant one is that patients experience fewer short- and long-term side effects. Unlike X-rays, protons can be precisely controlled so that most of the radiation ends up directly in the tumor so less healthy tissue is damaged during treatment. Proton therapy also lowers the occurrence of secondary tumors, which can occur many years after receiving radiation treatment.
Proton therapy is particularly beneficial when a tumor is located near critical organs structures, such as the brain, heart or spinal cord. It is also an important treatment for children because their bodies are still growing and are more sensitive to the undesirable effects of radiation. The precision of protons reduces the risks of developmental and growth problems, as well as a potential reduction in IQ in pediatric patients. Proton therapy is effective in treating many types of cancers as well as non-cancerous tumors. Tumor types that could often benefit from proton therapy include:
- Brain cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Base of skull tumor
- Central nervous system
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Pediatric tumor
- Tumor near the spine
ROC is the physician group which brought proton therapy to Illinois and the provider for for nearly all patients receiving proton therapy in Illinois. ROC physicians have exclusive privileges to provide proton therapy at the Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center, which has been treating patients since 2010.
