Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors: A Precise, Safer, & Effective Treatment Option
Finding out that you or your loved one has a brain tumor is scary. You are probably thinking about the issues you will face like painful treatments, scary side effects, and how much it’s all going to cost.
The idea of traditional radiation zapping your brain, and creating issues related to memory loss and low energy levels, is the biggest concern you have.
But you can breathe a sigh of relief because there is a better option. Proton therapy for brain tumors is an option. It is an advanced and precise treatment that targets only tumors and not the healthy tissues around them. By doing so, proton therapy reduces the chances of fewer side effects drastically.
But what about the success rate, cost, and side effect?
This guide breaks down everything you need to know to help you make the best decision.
Key Takeaways
- Proton therapy targets the tumor with exceptional accuracy and saves the nearby healthy tissues from radiation damage.
- There are fewer complications compared to conventional radiation.
- It is ideal for complex cases.
- It is great for children as it safeguards their developing brains.
- Proton therapy has a high success rate.
- Coming to India means the best proton therapy under your budget.
- MedicoExperts is there to make your treatment journey smooth and easy.
Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors
Proton therapy or proton beam therapy is a radiation therapy that uses protons to damage the brain tumor cells and keep the nearby healthy cells safe.
It zaps brain tumor with pinpoint accuracy. To do so, it uses a high-energy beam of protons to target and destroy cancer cells by damaging their DNA. When the DNA is damaged, the cancer cells cannot multiply. This stops them from growing and can even shrink them with time.
Interestingly, proton particles can be controlled to travel a specific distance and they stop right at the tumor. This means doctors can focus the radiation exactly where it’s needed and spare the sensitive brain tissues around it. Because of this precision, it saves your brain from any damage and reduces the chances of long-term side effects or cancer recurrence.
It is the best treatment for hard-to-reach areas like the brain, the lung, and the spinal cord where precision is extremely important.
Who can get Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors?
Proton therapy is appropriate for the following brain tumors:
- Grade III Gliomas
- Recurrent glioblastoma
- Meningiomas
- Low-grade gliomas
- Pineoblastomas
- Germ cell tumors
- Medulloblastomas
- Supratentorial PNET
- Chordomas
- Ependymomas
Treating metastatic brain tumor (where cancer has spread to the brain lining) is a challenging task. If the cancer enters the cerebrospinal fluid (a clear colourless liquid that surrounds and safeguards the brain and spinal cord), the patient needs radiation to the brain and spine. In this case, proton therapy is the best option.
Other than metastatic brain tumor, proton therapy is the best choice for:
- Tumor near critical areas of the brain that control vision, hearing, and other brain functions.
- Hard-to-reach tumors where surgery is not an option.
- Irregular tumors that are hard to target with traditional radiation
- Recurrent tumors that have come back after first treatment.
- People who have received radiation previously.
- Children, as it protects their developing brains.
What are the Benefits of Proton Therapy?
Precision is the first and foremost requirement for the treatment of brain tumor. Proton therapy targets the tumor with incredible accuracy, which makes it one of the best non-surgical treatments for brain tumors.
Let’s learn about the benefits of proton therapy in detail:
Proton therapy helps deliver the radiation exactly at the tumor. This precise accuracy brings the radiation rays to reach the tumor and keeps the healthy cells protected. This ability to focus solely on the tumor makes it one of the best treatment options for a delicate organ like the brain.
By limiting radiation exposure to healthy tissues, proton therapy reduces the chances of immediate and long-term side effects. Patients undergoing this treatment experience fewer complications like memory loss or cognitive decline. Traditional tradition has many side effects.
As proton therapy minimizes unnecessary radiation exposure, it also lowers the chances of developing secondary tumors caused by radiation damage. This makes it safer than conventional radiation therapy. The same reason makes it an excellent long-term treatment option for brain tumors.
If a patient has already received radiation treatment in the past, traditional radiation therapy may not be a safe option as it may cause excessive radiation exposure. However, proton therapy can be used in previously treated areas.
As we have already mentioned, patients who undergo proton therapy experience fewer side effects. This allows them to maintain better health. Also, the reduced damage to healthy brain cells means fewer cognitive problems and a quicker recovery time.
Side Effects of Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors
There are some mild side effects of proton therapy like
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Skin irritation
- Hair loss
Cost of Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors in India
Proton Therapy’s cost usually depends on the type of tumor & the number of settings required for the radiation.
Here is an estimate of the cost:
- 5 fractions – 6 to 9 Lakhs INR (USD 9K)
- 15 to 20 fractions – 19 to 25 Lakhs INR (USD 25K)
- 28 to 33 fractions – 35 to 40 Lakhs INR (USD 45K)
MedicoExperts offers special prices for selected countries.
Proton Therapy Success Rate for Brain Tumors
Research shows that proton therapy has a high success rate for treating brain tumors. Studies indicate that it productively controls tumors in 85%-95% of cases. The overall survival rate is 90%-100% after five years.
This is mostly true for tumors in delicate areas like the brain, where the pinpoint precision of proton therapy protects the healthy tissues.
How to Avail the Best Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors?
MedicoExperts serves as a link between you and India’s top healthcare providers. We aim to help you understand your options and choose the best among them.
We will make your treatment process smooth so that you can concentrate on your health without being distracted by other things. Our mission is to give a stress-free treatment experience in India.
Here’s how we ensure a trouble-free treatment experience:
- You will have an online consultation with our team.
- Then we will book an appointment with a specialist.
- They will examine your medical history, imaging data, and all other information related to your health to determine whether proton therapy is right for you.
- Then the specialists will prepare a treatment program that details your sessions, post-treatment care, and estimated recovery time.
- Your care team will also inform you about what to expect throughout the treatment, and also after that.
Apart from that, the MedicoExperts team will help you with travel arrangements, language assistance, and post-treatment care.
Takeaway
India offers advanced state-of-the-art treatment options in a cost range which is affordable and lower than other countries.
Indian hospitals and treatment facilities provide emotional and psychological counselling along with the treatment. These advantages make India an ideal destination for proton therapy. With highly experienced oncologists and advanced treatment facilities, India has a track record of successful outcomes.
So if you are considering proton therapy for a brain tumor, you should confidently proceed forward with your plans. More so, coming to India means the best care without financial constraints.
Choosing MedicoExpert as your partner in your treatment journey will enhance your experience to the next level, as we will make sure that you focus only on your recovery.
Contact MedicoExperts to receive expert guidance and personalized assistance for proton therapy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. Can proton therapy cure a brain tumor?
A. Brain tumors that are diagnosed early are curable, and Proton therapy can effectively treat them. But the effectiveness and best results depend on the type, location, grade, stage of brain tumor, and many other factors.
Q2. Can a stage 4 brain tumor be cured?
A. As per the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), early detection and treatment of brain tumors make them curable. But there are chances of recurrence and sometimes removal of these tumors becomes impossible.
Q3. Is proton therapy better than traditional therapy for brain tumor?
A. Proton therapy is considered better than traditional therapy for brain tumor treatment because it delivers radiation to the tumor with razor-sharp accuracy, which minimizes damage to nearby healthy tissues. Conventional radiation is not this accurate. Proton therapy’s accuracy helps protect the brain from cognitive impairment, memory loss and low levels of energy.
Q4. How long does proton therapy take for a brain tumor?
A. The duration of proton therapy for the treatment of brain tumor varies based on the tumor type and treatment plan. It can take one to six weeks, and the sessions will be given 5 days a week. Each of these sessions will last 15 to 30 minutes. The actual radiation therapy takes only a few minutes.
Q5. What is the recovery time after proton therapy for brain tumors?
A. Most people can resume their daily activities within a few days to weeks. But recovery time may vary depending on the patient’s health, tumor location, and response to therapy.
Q6. Who is eligible for advanced proton therapy for brain tumors?
A. Patients with both malignant and benign brain tumors, including gliomas, meningiomas, and pituitary tumors, may benefit from advanced proton therapy for brain tumors. Eligibility depends on the tumor type, location, and stage.
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/spinal-cord-tumors
- https://protoncenter.nm.org/en/cancers-tumors-treated/brain-tumors
- https://jhoonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13045-018-0683-4
- https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/proton-therapy-safety-versus-traditional-radiation
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9413159/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8241301/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30453388/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7066950/#:~:text=Five%2Dyear%20local%20control%20rates%20for%20low%2Drisk%20meningioma,significance%20in%20univariate%20analysis%20in%20four%20studies.&text=Proton%20therapy%20induced%20toxicity%20was%20moderate%20with,of%203.6%E2%80%9312.8%%20Grade%20%E2%89%A5%203%20late%20effects
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2718421/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2515569/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/brain-tumours/
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Author Bio:
Dr. Yashashree Joshi – MBBS, MD (Philippines)
Dr. Yashashree Joshi, MD, is a globally-trained oncologist with a robust academic background and extensive experience in pioneering cancer treatments. Dedicated to patient-centered care, she continually integrates the latest advancements in oncology to provide her patients with innovative and personalized treatment plans.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
