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Proton therapy is a form of radiation that reduces the total amount of radiation to the tissues surrounding the tumor, which could potentially lead to fewer side effects. If you have sarcoma, the radiation oncologists can decide if proton therapy is right for you and tell you more about this option.
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How Proton Therapy Can Treat Sarcoma
For patients where standard X-ray radiation would cause too much harm to healthy tissue near the tumor, proton radiation therapy can be a good choice. It sends more radiation to the tumor with a goal of sending much less to nearby tissue and organs, often causing fewer side effects.
Caption: These pictures show an example of treatment for a brain tumor comparing protons and X-ray radiation. The colored areas get radiation. The black, gray and white areas do not. With proton therapy (left), less healthy tissue is exposed to radiation. With standard X-ray radiation therapy (right), more healthy tissue is exposed.
When Proton Therapy is an Option for Sarcoma
Patients with sarcoma may have a wide range of treatment options, based on the type, location and stage of the cancer. Usually, treatment options include proton therapy, standard X-ray radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation.
Proton therapy is an important option, especially if:
- Your tumor is in your abdomen or close to vital organs.
- You are trying to preserve certain functions, like your fertility.
- You have had radiation therapy before.
- Your cancer has come back after treatment (possibly in a different part of your body than your original tumor).
- Angiosarcoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Chordoma
- Clear cell sarcoma
- Dedifferentiated liposarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Liposarcoma
- Myxofibrosarcoma
- Myxoid liposarcoma
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
- Osteosarcoma
- Pleomorphic liposarcoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Spine sarcoma
- Synovial sarcoma
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
- Well differentiated liposarcoma
- Many childhood sarcomas
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Proton Therapy for Sarcoma
Few cancer centers worldwide offer this state-of-the-art treatment. Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Proton Therapy, led by world-class experts, is the only proton therapy center in the Pacific Northwest. Our proton therapy providers have extensive experience in radiation oncology. As we put together your treatment plan, we’ll carefully consider whether proton therapy is the best option for you.
Proton Therapy Facts
- Proton therapy may lower your risk of secondary tumors in the future.
- Treatments are safe, noninvasive (no cuts to the skin are needed) and painless for most patients, helping you recover faster and keep living your life.
- Appointments usually take 15–60 minutes. You do not need to stay overnight in a hospital and can go on with your normal routine before and after each visit.
- 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.
"My biggest fear when it came to choosing a treatment plan was either that it wouldn’t work or that it might do damage elsewhere. I am a scientist, I did my research and I decided on proton therapy."
— Jim, sarcoma survivor