Proton Therapy for Cancer and Tumors

Proton therapy is available at the Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital campus. Bringing proton therapy to our patients adds to the many precise technologies we offer to effectively treat cancer. Adults and children no longer have to travel out of state for proton therapy, which reduces barriers, such as the cost of travel, to getting advanced treatment.

What Is Proton Therapy Cancer Treatment?

Proton therapy is a type of external beam radiation therapy. Instead of using X-rays (also called photons) like standard forms of radiation therapy, proton therapy uses proton particles to target and treat tumors. These particles can destroy cancer cells.

Proton therapy is a proven radiation treatment that has been well studied and tested. There are more than 900 published, peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous active clinical trials evaluating the benefits of proton therapy. The technology went through a rigorous process with the FDA and has been approved for cancer patient treatment for many years.

How Proton Therapy Works

With proton therapy, a high-energy dose of radiation can be targeted precisely to the depth as well as the shape of your tumor. That makes it different from standard radiation, which continues to deposit radiation in tissues that extend beyond the tumor, which is often called the exit dose. Proton therapy delivers radiation where it needs to go and stops — avoiding harm to sensitive organs and healthy tissues beyond the tumor.

How Proton Therapy Differs From Other Radiation Cancer Treatments

Radiation therapy can use proton particles or X-ray beams. Both types destroy cancer cells by delivering a dose of radiation to the tumor. Both aim to minimize radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues and organs.

Traditional radiation delivers X-rays to the tumor and a low radiation dose to tissues or organs beyond the treated tumor. By contrast, proton therapy delivers a beam of proton particles that stops at the tumor, so it is less likely to damage immediately adjacent healthy tissues or organs.

Types of Cancer Treated by Proton Therapy

Choosing the right type of radiation therapy for an individual requires years of training to understand patient-specific factors. Based on each patient’s cancer and unique personal factors, we will recommend the radiation therapy that will most effectively treat each person.

Proton therapy is especially suitable for cancers that lie near sensitive tissues that could make treatment with other types of radiation therapy more difficult. We may expand proton therapy to treat people with additional types of cancer in the future. Please call 414-805-0505 to schedule a consultation if you have questions about proton therapy’s benefits for you or a family member.:

Patients with the following cancers may be considered for proton therapy.

• Brain tumors
• Head and neck cancers
• Skull-base tumors
• Spine tumors
• Solid tumors in children

It may also be used to treat patients who need radiation therapy after previous radiation treatment when standard (photon-based) radiation would not be safe due to a patient’s lifetime radiation exposure limits. Proton therapy may also be suitable for people with metastatic cancer.

Proton therapy is one of the most advanced forms of radiation therapy available today, designed to precisely target tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Watch this video to learn how proton therapy works, who may benefit and why having access to innovative care close to home is so meaningful for patients and families.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

Proton therapy expands on our available imaged-guided and adaptive radiation technologies to treat cancer, which includes Unity MR-linac, Leksell Gamma Knife^® and RadiXact™ to name a few. Depending on the type of cancer you have and individual factors, your doctor may recommend proton therapy or a different type of radiation therapy for your best possible outcome. 

Among the benefits of proton therapy:

• Effective in treating cancer in adults and children
• Could reduce side effects and improve during- and post-treatment quality of life for people with many types of cancer.
• Deposits the majority of the radiation dose directly into the tumor for maximum cancer-fighting ability
• Delivers less radiation to healthy tissues and organs near the tumor resulting in a reduction in short- and long-term side effects
• Decreases unplanned hospitalization due to treatment-related complications
• Can treat many cancers, including brain and spine tumors, head and neck, and skull-base tumors.
• Can be combined with other types of treatment like chemotherapy and surgery
• Reduces the risk of developing a secondary cancer linked to initial radiation therapy
• Preserves cognitive abilities and functions like memory, word finding and dexterity when used to treat cancers of the central nervous system
• Can be used for re-treatment if cancer appears in an area previously treated with radiation therapy

Disadvantages of Proton Therapy

• The time it takes to plan proton therapy can be longer than for other types of radiation therapy.
• As with other types of radiation therapy, side effects like fatigue, skin irritation and hair loss can happen with proton therapy.
• Proton therapy is recommended for many but not all types of cancer.

What to Expect With Proton Therapy

Our team is here to help you through every stage of your treatment.

Pretreatment Planning

Planning for proton therapy is detailed and precise. Before treatment starts, patients have a planning appointment called simulation — to make sure the radiation dose will target the cancer and avoid healthy tissues as much as possible. It is an exacting process requiring a highly experienced radiation oncology team.

During the simulation, there is no treatment. The patient lies on the CT “bed” in the same position as for daily treatment. Custom devices (molds, masks, body supports) may be used to keep the patient in the exact same place during each session.

Planning starts with CT imaging, so the care team can see the tumor and nearby organs and other structures clearly. They will measure the tumor’s size and depth. The team may put tiny, temporary ink marks or tattoos on the patient’s skin to help line up the machine and targeting angles of the proton particles in exactly the same way for every treatment session. 

CT technology is integrated with the proton therapy machine, and the patient has a CT scan in the proton treatment room with each treatment session. This is important because the tumors will change during the course of treatment, and organs can shift position, as well. Imaging ensures safety and accuracy, so the patient will be in the right position to precisely target the tumor with the prescribed radiation dose.

Simulation helps the radiation oncologist use images and measurements to design a highly personalized treatment plan. The planning phase can take one to two weeks before treatment actually starts. The CT simulation process typically takes 30 to 60 minutes.

During Treatment

Adults receive treatment for several weeks, depending on the individual, usually for five days each week. Patients may need anywhere from five to 39 treatments, depending on the specific diagnosis. After each treatment, they can return home. Many adults continue working, at least part-time, especially early in their treatment course. Usually, there are no additional activity restrictions during the course of treatment. Patients may continue their daily routines.

Each treatment appointment lasts about 20 to 45 minutes. This depends on the area of the body being treated. Most of this time is taken up by imaging and positioning. The actual radiation therapy only takes a few minutes. Radiation is completely painless, and the patient won’t feel any burning or stinging sensations. Proton therapy feels no different than having a regular X-ray. Patients won’t carry radiation with them and are not radioactive after treatment, so there is no risk of harm to others around you.

Radiation therapists will watch and talk to the patient during treatment from the control room, which is separate from the treatment room.

Emotional and Practical Considerations

Daily treatments can be tiring logistically, especially for adults who are working through treatment. It is often helpful to have a friend or family member join appointments to lend support.

Some people feel anxiety at first, which usually eases quickly. Many support services (nutrition, social work, counseling and much more) are available. Ask the care team.

What to Expect for Children Receiving Proton Therapy

Our pediatric radiation oncologists are highly experienced in treating children with radiation therapy and understand that it can be tough on families and young patients. They have many techniques to help ease fears, as the experience can feel scary for children. Sedation is offered during planning and treatment as needed, especially for kids younger than six or seven years old. An anesthesia team is present during sedation to keep your child safe.

As with adults, your child can go home after each treatment. Each visit lasts 30 to 90 minutes, with most of the time involving setup and sedation (if given). The actual radiation treatment takes just a few minutes.

There is no pain from the radiation, and our radiation therapists monitor your child very closely from the control room the entire time of treatment. They can talk to your child from the control room, offering extra reassurance as needed.

Normal activities are fine after treatment and recovery from sedation, and most children continue attending school, at least part-time, through treatment. While fatigue may limit activities, play is allowed as your child can tolerate it. Anxiety, boredom or fear are common, and we encourage families to take advantage of our child life specialists and other cancer support services.

Long-Term Expectations for Children Receiving Proton Therapy

• Better preservation of IQ, memory and attention
• Lower risk of growth problems and hormonal disorders
• Reduced damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and bowel
• Lower lifetime risk of secondary cancers

Follow-up into adulthood is important to monitor growth, learning capabilities and organ function after treatment.

The Froedtert & MCW Health Network — A Trusted, Recognized Place to Receive Advanced Radiation Therapy

Proton therapy requires an extensive and experienced radiation oncology team. Ours has decades of clinical experience and has led or collaborated in numerous clinical trials that involve innovative radiation therapy technologies and treatments.

Our radiation oncologists and physicists have helped develop other new technologies that deliver more precise and personalized radiation therapy. They were part of a global team that helped bring the groundbreaking Unity MR-linac into standard patient treatment.

We offer the largest cancer clinical trials treatment program in eastern Wisconsin. Proton therapy opens the door to even more clinical trials, including trials that are only available through our Cancer Network. This means more treatment options for our patients.

We offer proton therapy at our Froedtert Hospital campus, part of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus — just off U.S. Highway 41 South and easily accessible from many parts of the state. We share the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus with Children’s Wisconsin, one of the nation’s top pediatric facilities.

Facilities like Kathy’s House and the Ronald McDonald House are conveniently located nearby and offer family-friendly resources and accommodations.