What is proton beam therapy treatment?

What is proton beam therapy?

Proton beam therapy is an advanced type of radiotherapy used to treat various types of cancer. It is mainly carried out in private treatment centres, of which we are the only one in the UK. Proton International London offers proton beam therapy at our private treatment centre in the esteemed University College Hospital London (UCLH).

What is radiotherapy?

Before describing proton beam therapy in more detail, let’s define radiation therapy more broadly.

Radiation is a natural energy that usually takes the form of sound, heat or light and surrounds us safely all the time. At high levels, however, radiation can cause damage to our bodies, which scientists have successfully harnessed to treat cancer.

Radiotherapy is a highly effective treatment and has been widely available in the UK for decades. It is administered by radiographers using specialist machinery that targets radiation at cancerous tumours from outside the body. This radiation destroys the DNA inside cancer cells, preventing them from growing or spreading.

What’s the difference between photon and proton beam therapy?

Two types of radiation particles are used in treating cancer: photons and protons. They may sound similar, but the difference lies in how they exit the body and the consequent risk of side effects.

Let’s take a look at each one in turn:

Photon beam therapy (conventional radiotherapy)

Photon beam radiotherapy, widely available on the NHS, uses high-energy X-rays to target cancer cells. Once they reach the affected cells, they travel through the body and exit on the other side.

Doctors have become very adept at minimising the risk of damage caused by the ‘exit dose’ of photons, but the radiation may still cause damage on its way out of the body, leading to short and long-term side effects. However, it is a highly effective treatment, and there is plenty of support and advice to help manage side effects should they occur.

Proton beam therapy

Proton beam therapy works slightly differently from conventional radiation therapy. Rather than using X-rays, photon therapy is administered using a particle accelerator, which speeds up the particles to very high energies. These protons are then directed into a beam and aimed at the tumour, releasing most of their energy precisely at the tumour site, sparing the surrounding healthy cells.

This precision significantly limits the dose of radiation to the normal tissue, meaning that patients may experience fewer long-term side effects and a better quality of life.

What exactly is a proton beam?

A proton is a positively charged particle found in the centre of all atoms. In proton beam therapy, these particles are sped up using a machine called a cyclotron or synchrotron. The resulting proton beam is then carefully aimed at the tumour from outside the body.

How does proton beam therapy work?

Unlike traditional X-ray radiotherapy, which releases radiation along its entire path, protons deposit most of their energy directly at the tumour site in what’s known as the Bragg peak. The dose then falls to almost zero almost immediately. Less radiation reaches the healthy tissue in front of the tumour, and only a negligible amount reaches the healthy tissue behind the tumour, resulting in far less damage to healthy tissue.

What are the side effects of proton beam therapy?

All types of radiotherapy can cause side effects. However, thanks to the precision of proton therapy, side effects are generally minor, and the treatment is well-tolerated by most people.

Short-term (acute) side effects include fatigue, skin reactions, nausea, headache and hair loss in the treatment area. These side effects may worsen in the final week and then typically start to improve 4 to 6 weeks after the treatment has finished.

Some radiotherapy side effects are linked to the area being targeted — for example, brain radiotherapy can affect memory, while radiotherapy to the pelvis can lead to changes in bowel function. Treatment to the chest may affect lung or heart function over time, and treatment to the throat can cause swallowing difficulties.

This is where proton beam therapy can really make a difference — by targeting the tumour more precisely and reducing the amount of radiation reaching the healthy tissue around it, it lowers the chance of long-term side effects.

How long does proton therapy take?

Proton therapy treatments are more complex and time-consuming to deliver than standard radiotherapy, and can last about 30 to 45 minutes. This can be difficult in terms of keeping still, although the utmost care is taken to ensure your comfort. The good news is that after receiving any radiotherapy, you don’t have to stay in hospital overnight. You will be an outpatient and can go home straight after the session.

Your treatment will usually be scheduled for five consecutive days for up to a total of eight weeks. Every treatment plan is unique and depends on the type of cancer you have and if you are receiving other therapies, such as chemotherapy.

The frequency of treatment can make it logistically challenging to travel back and forth to the treatment centre. That is why, at Proton Beam International, we will do everything we can to accommodate you if you are travelling from outside London, including arranging accommodation and providing a 5-star concierge service.

Who can receive proton beam therapy?

In the UK, proton beam therapy is not yet approved for treating all types of cancer.

At Proton International London, we are actively expanding the range of tumour and cancer types that we can treat, with the hope of extending the benefits of proton beam therapy to more patients.

What types of cancer can be treated with proton beam therapy?

Proton beam therapy is especially beneficial in treating cancers in children and in adults where a tumour is located near critical organs or tissue, such as the brain, spinal cord, lungs or heart.

Here are a few of the types of cancer for which proton beam therapy may be a suitable treatment:

• Prostate cancer – Proton beam therapy is helpful in treating prostate cancer as it can help minimise side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and bowel complications. Read more on PBT for prostate cancer.
• Cancer in children – Children’s bodies are still developing and growing, and so are more susceptible to the side effects of radiation. Proton beam therapy limits damage to developing tissues, lowering the risk of short and long-term side effects. Read more about PBT for cancer in children.
• Head, neck and brain cancers – Proton beam therapy minimises radiation exposure to critical structures in the head and neck area, such as the brainstem, spinal cord, and salivary glands. Read more about PBT for head and neck cancers and also brain cancers.

Frequently asked questions bout proton beam therapy

Is proton beam therapy different to radiotherapy?

Proton beam therapy isn’t different to radiotherapy, rather it is a type of radiotherapy. While it works in a slightly different way and offers distinct benefits, it shares the same goal as conventional radiotherapy: to kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing and spreading.

Is proton beam therapy available on the NHS?

The NHS refers around 650 patients a year for proton beam therapy at The Christie in Manchester and at University College Hospital and abroad, but only when it is considered clinically necessary. It’s usually offered to NHS patients with certain rare or hard-to-treat cancers, such as some brain tumours, spinal cord cancers, or cancers in children.

How much does proton beam therapy cost in the UK?

In the UK, proton beam therapy is mostly private due to the significant expense. Treatment at Proton International London is available to insured and self-pay patients, both from the UK and abroad. The cost of proton beam therapy is specific to each patient. Read more about how to pay for proton beam therapy here.

Can you offer support services to me and my family?

Your care team is here to make sure your treatment goes smoothly and will support you every step of the way. We can also connect you with psychological support, practical advice, and services like nutrition, wig support, and financial guidance. Read more about our patient care.

Can you have other treatments with proton therapy?

Proton therapy can be combined with other treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Your proton therapy care team will work closely with your NHS team, GP, or other specialists to ensure your treatment is fully coordinated.

Is proton beam therapy well-researched?

Proton beam therapy is a well-studied treatment, and around 170,000 people have received it worldwide so far. There’s strong evidence that it’s beneficial for certain cancers, especially in children and in tumours near delicate parts of the body, like the brain or spine. Clinical trials are ongoing to better understand how well it works for a broader range of cancers, including how it compares to standard radiotherapy in terms of tumour control, side effects, and long-term outcomes.

Is proton beam therapy NICE-approved?

Yes, proton beam therapy is approved by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) for specific types of cancer, mainly where precision is especially important, such as tumours in the brain, spine, head, and neck. As research continues and more proton centres open in the UK, NICE may expand its recommendations to include a wider range of cancers in future.

What are the alternatives to proton therapy treatment?

There are several alternative treatment options depending on your type and stage of cancer. These include photon radiotherapy (conventional radiation therapy); stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT, a highly focused form of photon radiotherapy); drug treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy; and surgery. These are often combined but can be given in isolation.