Why do some clinicians consider particle beam radiation therapy to be better than traditional radiation?
Dr. Berliner: Particle beam radiation delivers energy in a way that is more targeted than other radiation treatments. The result is that it can spare the healthy tissue surrounding the cancerous cells. Debra: How is particle beam radiation therapy different from traditional radiation? Dr. Berliner: Traditional radiation therapy can’t be targeted as precisely, so it damages healthy tissues near the cancer cells. In theory, this precision makes particle beam radiation therapy beneficial for treating tumors that are in tight spaces, as well as tumors that are difficult to remove, or tumors near critical body parts such as the eyes or brain. Debra: Does this precision give patients better results than if they received other radiation therapies? Dr. Berliner: Well, at this point, we don’t know if particle beam radiation therapy offers better outcomes for patients. While we do know that particle beam radiation therapy focuses radiation more precisely, scientific studies so far haven’t measur
