Cancers we treat

Cancers we treat at Proton International London

At Proton International, we can treat the following cancers:

Paediatric

Proton beam therapy is an advantageous treatment for children, especially young children.

Because protons are so precise, more of the body is left untouched by radiation. This is especially important when treating cancer in children, whose bodies are still growing. The reduction in the amount of healthy tissue receiving a radiation dose can significantly reduce the risk of long-term side effects in later life.

For information about other private cancer treatments for teenagers and young people at UCLH please click here.

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Skull base tumours

Proton beam therapy has proven to be of particular benefit when treating skull-based tumours which are often located near to the brain stem, spinal cord and healthy brain tissue. The precision that can be achieved with protons allows delivery to the tumour of the high radiation doses often needed and minimises damage and potential long-term side-effects to the normal tissues in these areas.

Head and neck

The head and neck area contain many critical structures which if damaged with radiation can have significant side-effects such as the inability to swallow and the loss of saliva. By using proton beam therapy, the risk of damage and potential long-term side-effects to the normal tissues in these areas can be reduced.

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Spine/Sarcomas

Tumours in or near the spine can be in direct contact with nerves and the spinal cord, which control the function of arms and legs. Because of the precision that can be achieved with proton beam therapy it is uniquely suitable for treating tumours in the spine to the high radiation doses often needed, while minimising damage and potential long-term side-effects to the normal tissues in these areas.

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Brain and Neurological

Proton beam therapy can limit the radiation received by critical structures such as the brain stem, spinal cord and healthy brain tissue, when treating brain and other central nervous system cancers, allowing effective treatment of the tumour while reducing radiation dose to normal tissues, so reducing long term side effects.

Prostate

Surgery and conventional radiotherapy treatments for prostate cancer can leave men with life-changing and debilitating side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and rectal urgency.

Proton beam therapy can reduce the dose to normal tissues and organs close to the prostate, which can reduce these long term side effects, including radiation-induced cancers.

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Breast

Breast tissue is close to the heart and lungs, and so proton beam therapy can reduce the radiation dose to these tissues, which can reduce long term side effects, including heart disease and radiation-induced cancers.

Proton beam therapy for breast cancer will be available towards the end of 2024. Please call our team to find out more.

Lung

There are several critical structures that are located close to lung tumours, including the heart and healthy lung tissue. Proton beam therapy can reduce the radiation dose to these normal tissues, and so can reduce short term side effects such as pneumonitis (lung inflammation) and long term side effects including heart disease.

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How will I know if I am suitable for proton therapy?

Proton beam therapy is not necessarily the right treatment for everyone, but if you think you might benefit, do discuss it with your consultant.

If your consultant isn’t qualified to treat patients with proton beam therapy, they will be able to refer you to a consultant or clinical oncologist who has expertise in treating patients with proton beam therapy. You will be able to have a discussion with this doctor who can advise you as to whether proton beam therapy is a suitable treatment for you.

Whether you will benefit from proton beam therapy will also be discussed by your consultant at a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT). The multidisciplinary team includes specialist surgeons, oncologists and radiologists with expertise in treating your tumour type.

If proton beam therapy is considered an appropriate treatment for you your case will also need to be presented by your consultant at a Technical Approval Panel at UCLH.

If the Technical Approval Panel agrees that proton beam therapy is the right treatment for you, our team will ensure you are always fully informed. They will liaise with everyone involved in your care on your behalf to book your treatment and ensure everything is sorted out for you quickly, and that any concerns you may have are minimised.

What are the benefits of proton beam therapy?

Research shows that proton beam therapy is considered an advantageous treatment option for certain types of cancer for several reasons:

• Precise targeting: Proton beams can be precisely aimed and controlled to deliver radiation to a tumour while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, which is important for tumours that are located near critical organs and tissue structures.
• Reduced side effects: By sparing healthy tissue, proton beam therapy can potentially reduce the risk of side effects and improve outcomes for patients.
• High dose delivery: Proton beams can deliver a high dose of radiation to a tumour, which can be particularly effective for certain types of cancers that are resistant to other treatments.
• Favourable outcomes: Studies suggest that proton beam therapy can result in high rates of tumour control and fewer side effects for certain types of cancer.