Loma Linda Prostate Cancer Treatment
The Proton Treatment and Research Center at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, had dedication ceremonies in December of 2007. The center is dedicated to a former student of physics who thought that subatomic particles would be available for curing cancer worldwide. This physicist was presented with doubts among his colleagues however, but he maintained the vision, in 1990, the center, called the James A. Slater, MD, Proton Treatment, and Research Center at Loma Linda University opened its doors to a new perspective and vision for the future of cancer treatment. This center was the first of its kind in the United States of America. Proton therapy is a highly precise delivery method using radiation. This precision minimizes damage to surrounding organs and tissue.
What is Proton Therapy?
Radiation therapy, given in higher doses, will control many of the cancers that are treated. However, due to the inability to conform an irradiation pattern, tissues that surround the cancer may suffer damage. This fact alone forces the physician's hand in using less than the desired dose to minimize damage and side affects that are unacceptable.
With proton beam therapy however, full or higher doses are used. The research and millions of dollars in federal funding were spent for developing the technology of proton acceleration. Fermilab (the high-level experiment center of the United States Department of Energy) physicist and engineers conducted the work involved. The proton accelerator that was developed is the one at the Loma Linda Center today. The medical definition of a proton according to most dictionaries is a stable and positively charged subatomic particle.
Prostate Cancer Treatment and Proton Treatment
According to the National Association of Proton Therapy, more than two hundred thousand men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Before proton therapy was available, there were only two choices that were primarily considered for prostate cancer treatment. Those treatments did not present any good options for they were conventional radiation or surgery to remove the prostate. The fear and anxiety of those two choices lead to a third choice which is still in use today and is called watchful waiting.
Proton therapy has proven to be highly affective in treating the prostate without the real dangers of conventional radiation or the drastic measure of surgically removing the prostate. Since 2001, proton therapy has proven to be the most effective treatment available for prostate cancer that has not metastasized (spread outside the prostate).
What Is Involved With Proton Therapy?
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. The usual length of treatment is approximately one or two days for five to seven weeks. Time spent in the treatment area will be about twenty minutes so that adjustments can be made for personal treatment. The procedure itself last only one minute or so.
There is no pain associated with the proton beam itself although some minor side affects may occur but are usually mild in comparison to conventional radiation. Common side effects may include skin reactions at the site of proton entry, fatigue, and hair loss.
Types of Equipment Used
According to radiologyinfo.com, a website that is dedicated to answering most patient questions about radiology treatments from the basic x-ray to the more advanced Stereotactic Radiosurgery, which is used to treat tumors of the brain. Proton beam therapy uses special equipment called cyclotron or a synchrotron.
These machines accelerate and generate protons. Once the protons have reached the desired speed and quantity, they leave the equipment and are directed towards the tumor by using magnets. Other machines or appendices to the major equipment modify the range and shape of the beam.
Some Final Words
Dr. Slater noted: "Our analysis shows that overall, the disease-free survival rate is running above 90 percent at four years and the side effects are considerably less than we would have expected." This is wonderful news and people come from all over the world to receive this treatment at the Proton Treatment and Research Center at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. Sadly however, not everyone can get to California for this treatment. New clinical (hospital based) centers are being planned for Mass General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and today there are 20 non-clinical cancer sites that have the capacity to treat patients using this technology.
Additional information on proton therapy for cancer treatment is available by calling 1-800-PROTONS, or 1-800-776-8667.
Tags: Loma Linda, Proton Treatment, Center Loma, Center Loma Linda, conventional radiation