How Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors Works

Brain tumors are primarily treated with surgical operations when possible. If surgery is not an option due to the tumor’s size, deep location, or the patient’s health condition, radiation therapy becomes the main treatment method. Standard radiation techniques can damage normal brain tissue. Proton therapy for brain tumors is considered the safest way to destroy these neoplasms. It is available in six clinics in Germany. Most foreign patients receive cancer proton therapy at university hospitals in Essen and Heidelberg, which house the largest proton therapy centers.

How Proton Therapy Destroys Tumors

Radiation therapy is used worldwide as one of the primary methods to treat cancer. The essence of this procedure is to destroy tumor tissues using radiation. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in this field of medicine, leading to more precise and effective treatment options.

Several decades ago, gamma radiation from radioactive isotopes (gamma therapy) was the main radiation source. This method, while effective, had limitations in terms of precision and potential damage to surrounding healthy tissue. As medical technology progressed, new techniques were developed to address these issues. In modern conditions, linear accelerators are used to irradiate malignant neoplasms using photons. In many developed countries, gamma therapy devices have been completely replaced by these machines and are rarely used.

Finally, the most advanced method of radiation therapy is proton therapy. Instead of photons, protons are used as radiation sources. Their advantage is that they release minimal radiation while moving towards the target, releasing most of their energy only inside the tumor. Beyond the target, no radiation is released at all.

For the patient, this means that almost all radiation doses will be delivered precisely to the tumor, not to healthy tissue. As a result, the risk of post-radiation complications is significantly reduced. This is particularly crucial when treating tumors in sensitive areas like the brain, where minimizing damage to surrounding tissue is of utmost importance.

Why Proton Therapy is Used for Brain Tumors

Despite all the advantages of proton therapy, its widespread use is still impossible. Very expensive equipment is required for this procedure. The procedure itself is also substantially more costly compared to standard radiation. There aren’t many proton therapy centers in Europe: Germany has only six, most other European countries have one to three, and in some countries, this treatment method is not available at all.

Therefore, proton therapy is only used for patients who can benefit the most from it compared to standard photon radiation. Brain tumors are just such a case. Radiation damage to normal brain tissue causes neurological deficits, reduces quality of life, and can lead to disability. Some tumors are located near vital centers, for example, in the brainstem area, and irradiation of these zones is fatally dangerous. Proton therapy is used specifically for such situations. It destroys the tumor, but functionally significant brain areas receive minimal radiation doses, minimizing the risk of severe post-radiation complications.

When to Choose Proton Therapy

For brain cancer, doctors recommend using proton therapy in the following situations:

When the tumor is located near the brainstem
If there’s a risk of radiation damage to cranial nerves
For skull base tumors
To treat radio-resistant tumors (proton therapy allows increasing the radiation dose because it irradiates normal tissues to a lesser extent)

For children with brain tumors, proton therapy is always preferable as it reduces damage to the developing brain and lowers the risk of secondary tumors associated with radiation exposure.

If you want to use the services of advanced cancer centers, treat brain tumors using modern medicines and innovative types of radiation therapy, visit the Booking Health website. It features the world’s best clinics. You can find a suitable proton therapy center, learn about prices, and book treatment for convenient dates. Booking Health team will help organize your trip.