Proton Therapy – Fact Sheet
Precise
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Most precise form of radiation treatment available today
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Destroys primary tumor site, leaves surrounding healthy tissue and organs intact and unharmed
Non-invasive
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Is non-invasive and painless
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Maintains a patient’s quality-of life during treatment process as an outpatient
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Patients continue with normal activities during treatment
Reduced Side Effects
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Avoids the usual side effects of standard x-ray radiation
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Highly effective treatment for wide range of localized tumors in head and neck area, lung, prostate, bladder, spinal cord, gastro malignancies, ocular tumors and others
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Working on treating breast cancer with small protocols utilizing a new scanning technique
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Women with breast cancer can avoid damage to lungs and surrounding breast tissue
Combination of Treatments
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Protons can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherap
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Treatment time can take from one day for certain conditions or up to eight weeks (prostate cancer) depending on tumor sites.
Preferred Form of Treatment
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Highly preferred radiation treatment modality option for pediatric cases because children are susceptible to injury from standard x-ray radiation as their tissues and organs are growing rapidly
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Children don’t have to be subjected to needless exposure from damaging radiation
Growing Population of Treated Patients
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To date, nearly 35,000 patients treated in U.S. and approximately 90,000 patients worldwide
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First hospital-based proton center opened in 1990 at Loma Linda University Medical Center
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Currently 11 operating proton centers that are treating 150-200 patients daily
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Reimbursement - Proton Therapy is covered by Medicare and nearly all health care insurance providers.