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Proton therapy is an advanced radiation treatment that uses highly focused beams of protons, which are tiny particles with a positive charge, to precisely target tumors. Because it can be delivered with such precision, it limits damage to surrounding healthy tissue or organs. This level of precision makes proton therapy especially beneficial for cancers located near sensitive parts of the body, such as the heart, esophagus or spinal cord.
Proton therapy may be an option for you even if you’ve already had radiation for cancer. In fact, it may also be your only option for getting more radiation treatment.
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Fax: 206.374.2645
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How Proton Therapy is Used to Treat Lung Cancer
By precisely targeting the tumor, proton therapy can shrink or destroy cancer cells while preserving nearby healthy tissue. For patients with non-small cell lung cancer, proton therapy can be used as a primary treatment or in combination with another therapy, such as chemotherapy or surgery.
Proton therapy is also used for people with locally-advanced lung cancer where their tumor has started to spread but hasn’t yet reached distant organs. Its precision allows radiation oncologists to deliver radiation to the tumor while minimizing harm to nearby structures. This may reduce the chance of treatment-related complications, such as lung damage or inflammation.
"While getting a cancer diagnosis — or even two, in my case — is scary, I felt that my medical care team at Fred Hutch was there to fight for me. I feel very lucky to have these amazing resources and medical professionals there for me."
— Dawn, lung cancer patient
Tough on Your Tumor. Easier on Your Body.
With standard X-ray radiation therapy, the radiation dose is highest right where the X-rays enter your body. The X-rays keep giving off radiation as they go through your tumor and the tissue beyond. This can lead to side effects, like heart damage or trouble swallowing.
Until recently, patients and physicians accepted these side effects as a trade-off for treating the cancer. But with proton radiation therapy, we can reduce the risks. Proton therapy sends radiation exactly to your tumor. The goal is for less radiation to reach your healthy tissue nearby.
Pencil Beam Scanning
Pencil beam scanning (PBS) is the latest proton technology, offered at Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Proton Therapy, that allows for even greater accuracy when treating cancer with proton radiation. PBS uses a narrow proton beam to “paint” the tumor with a lot of very thin, very precise beams of protons. The beams are accurate down to millimeters. Because the pencil beam can be targeted so precisely, higher, more effective doses can be used. The pencil beam deposits radiation starting at the deepest layer of tumor tissue, and works slice by slice through the tumor.
Proton Therapy Facts
- Radiation to the heart raises the risk of heart problems later in life by 7.4% per gray (a unit of radiation). Compared to X-ray radiation, proton therapy lowers the amount of radiation that reaches your heart and other tissue and organs nearby.
- Proton therapy may be an option for you even if you’ve already had radiation for cancer. In fact, it may be your only option for getting more radiation treatment.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved proton therapy for clinical use in 1988. More than 200,000 people worldwide have had this form of treatment.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer
Fred Hutch's proton therapy facility, led by world-class experts in proton therapy, is the only facility of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. All of our radiation oncologists are faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine and all are board certified. As of late 2022, only 118 centers worldwide offer this state-of-the-art treatment option. If you have lung cancer, our radiation oncologists can determine if proton therapy is an option for you.
Proton therapy is delivered in a series of sessions called fractions, which usually occur five days a week over several weeks. During each session, you will lie on a treatment table, and a machine called a cyclotron or synchrotron generates the proton beams which are directed at the tumor using advanced imaging and planning systems to ensure precision. Each session typically lasts about 30 minutes, with the actual radiation delivery taking only a few minutes.
Proton therapy minimizes damage to healthy tissues because protons deposit most of their energy at a very specific location. X-ray radiation works differently. It passes through the entire body, which exposes healthy tissues to radiation.
Lung and thoracic cancers that can be treated with proton therapy include:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Certain types of small cell lung cancer
- Malignant mesothelioma
- Mediastinal tumors, including thymoma and sarcoma
- Certain kinds of recurrent lung and metastatic cancers
Proton therapy may be an option for you if you have lung cancer that has not spread outside your chest, especially if you also have limited or poor pulmonary (breathing) function; a heart condition or had prior radiation therapy.
Proton therapy is designed to minimize side effects and sends radiation exactly to your tumor. The goal is for less radiation to reach your healthy tissue nearby. If you do experience any side effects, esophagitis, fatigue and skin irritation are the most common.
Preparing for proton therapy first involves meeting with your care team to create a personalized treatment plan. Next, you will go through a process called simulation and planning prior to treatment, where you will need imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans. These test findings are used to map the tumor’s exact location and to make sure you are positioned correctly for each treatment.
Learn more about proton therapy at Fred Hutch.
