Proton Therapy

Advanced, non-invasive treatment gets you back to everyday activities quickly

Proton therapy is a highly advanced and targeted type of radiation therapy that provides a higher radiation dose to the cancer while decreasing the dose to the healthy, surrounding tissues. This means that cancerous tumors may shrink more quickly, while the rest of your body can stay healthy.

Also known as proton beam therapy, this treatment is a highly advanced and precise form of radiation. With proton therapy, you can continue normal daily activities during treatment and maintain your quality of life.

If you’d like to find out if you’re a candidate for proton therapy, speak with your WellSpan oncologist.

Conditions Treated

Proton therapy may be recommended by your oncologist for a variety of types of localized tumors, including:

How We Can Help

Approximately 60 percent of cancer patients receive a course of radiation as part of their treatment plan, and traditional radiation is an excellent option for most. However, approximately 20 percent to 30 percent of these patients could significantly benefit from proton therapy. You may be a candidate for proton therapy if:

• You have a localized, solid tumor near a critical organ, such as the base of skull, brain, breast, esophagus, eyes, head and neck, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, pelvis or spinal cord.
• You have received conventional radiation in the past but your tumors have come back.

The treatment is non-invasive, and you can receive it in combination with chemotherapy and surgery. Patients receiving proton therapy for their cancer typically have less down time and are able to resume normal activities more quickly while feeling better.

If you’d like to find out if you’re a candidate for proton therapy, speak with your WellSpan oncologist.