Cancer Treatment Information > Proton Therapy > Overview

Overview

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that is currently in use at a limited number of centers worldwide.  Protons are different from conventional radiation because the beam can deposit the bulk of the radiation in the target and significantly reduce normal tissue exposure to excess radiation.  There is significant potential to reduce side effects and improve overall outcomes.  For some tumors, higher doses of radiation may be delivered with protons and there is also the potential to improve combination treatment with other therapies, such as chemotherapy, which can be difficulty with conventional radiation therapy.  As with all cancer therapies, protons should not be used for everything.  They are a tool that may be of benefit for particular tumors and particular situations.  The following sections will help explain both the promise and limitations of this technology.

Proton Therapy: Behind the Scenes

Proton Therapy: The Basics
Proton therapy is different from conventional radiation because the beam can significantly reduce normal tissue exposure to excess radiation. This article provides an introduction to proton therapy.

OncoLink Proton Education Modules
These healthcare practitioner education modules is to provide the basic information needed to understand the physics of proton therapy and how these properties affect simulation, treatment planning, daily setup, and quality and assurance when using protons as compared to photons. The basic types of proton delivery systems, positioning systems and immobilization devices are also described. Safety and planning are also discussed as well as some of the early results from specific disease sites where protons have been used.

Proton Therapy Training Meeting - 2009
This course is designed to train radiation oncologists and medical physicists in the use of proton therapy as a treatment for several types of cancer.