How does proton therapy work?
Protons can be manipulated to release their energy at precise depths so they can target tumors near the skin surface or deep inside the body, depositing most of their radiation exactly at the tumor site. The peak of this proton radiation dose (called the Bragg Peak) is set so it releases the radiation when it hits the tumor; immediately after that point, the radiation dose falls to almost zero. Less radiation reaches the healthy tissue in front of the tumor, and almost none reaches the healthy tissue behind the tumor, resulting in much less damage to healthy tissue. Patients often experience fewer short-term and long-term side effects that typically accompany standard X-ray radiation. In addition, because more radiation can be deposited directly in the tumor, a higher dose often can be delivered, leading to more effective treatment.
Protons can be manipulated to release their energy at precise depths so they can target tumors near the skin surface or deep inside the body, depositing much of their energy exactly at the tumor site. The peak of this proton-radiation dose (called the Bragg Peak) is set so it releases the radiation when it hits the tumor; immediately after that point, the dose falls to almost zero.
