Proton Therapy Treatment for Sarcoma
Fight Sarcoma with Laser-like Precision
California Protons’ intensity-modulated pencil beam scanning technology is a highly precise form of sarcoma radiation therapy that enables our doctors to selectively target sarcoma tumors that arise in your connective soft tissues or bones with high-dose radiation.
Compared with older passive-scattering proton therapy treatment, our pencil beam scanning technology precisely delivers radiation treatment for sarcoma within 2 millimeters and with the utmost care. We can attack tumors layer by layer and minimize harmful exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and organs. This is important for sarcomas located close to critical and sensitive organs in which unnecessary radiation could lead to increased side effects and risk of secondary cancer. The reduction of radiation-related toxicity also increases the likelihood that patients can complete treatment with fewer interruptions or delays.
Sarcoma Radiation
Treatment Details
What We Treat
- Bone sarcoma (osteosarcoma)
- Chondrosarcoma
- Chordoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Other sarcomas found in your bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, nerves, fat and blood vessels
What We Do
- Target the tumor only
- Protect your heart, lungs, spine, reproductive organs and digestive system
- Maintain your quality of life during treatment
- Reduce side effects of treatment, including nausea, vomiting and fatigue
- Lower the risk of secondary cancer due to radiation
Benefits of Proton Radiation Therapy for Sarcoma
- Our pencil beam scanning technology precisely controls protons to place the Bragg peak—the point at which they deposit their maximum energy—directly in the tumor. This allows us to treat more complex tumor shapes and vary the dose within the tumor.
- Advanced proton therapy allows doctors to more selectively deliver high-dose radiation to cancerous sarcoma cells, and reduce the dose to surrounding healthy tissues and critical organs. In some cases, this has been shown to deliver higher cure rates than X-ray radiation treatment even in some of the most challenging situations.
- Because sarcomas can be located close to critical and sensitive organs, treating these tumors with radiation can be challenging. Our pencil beam scanning technology delivers radiation with greater precision and control so exposure to nearby organs and tissues such as your heart, lungs, spine, reproductive organs and digestive system is greatly reduced.
- Proton therapy may offer a therapeutic advantage over traditional radiation techniques in the treatment of sarcoma, according to the 2009 sarcoma guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
- Unlike with older technology, the treatment plan can be loaded into the computer and completed within a matter of minutes. Treatments are also noninvasive and convenient so patients can get back to their daily activities quicker.
Is
Proton Therapy for Sarcoma
Right for You or Your Child?
Depending on the stage of sarcoma, combined treatments of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may be needed for some sarcoma tumors. Treatment options are also affected by the type of sarcoma, location in the body, age, overall health and personal preferences.
Treatment for
Recurrent Sarcoma Cancer
Proton therapy is often the best way to treat recurrent tumors in areas that have previously been treated with radiation therapy.
Treating previously irradiated areas can be challenging. The healthy tissues around the recurrent tumor do not fully “forget” the previous radiation dose, and any added dose continues to increase the risk of normal tissue injury. Proton beam therapy enables doctors to better concentrate the dose to the target and limit it elsewhere, allowing re-treatment with radiation in select patients.
Sarcoma Proton Therapy Treatment Outcomes & Long-Term Effects
Proton therapy treatment for sarcoma at California Protons Cancer Therapy Center in San Diego may offer similar outcomes to standard X-ray radiation, while reducing long-term and potentially life-threatening side effects such as radiation damage to the heart, lungs, spine, reproductive organs and digestive system. It also offers the possibility of lower chances for secondary cancers later in life due to the reduced radiation exposure to healthy tissues and organs.
However, all cancer treatments have advantages and disadvantages. Be sure to discuss all of the potential risks, as well as treatment options, with your oncologist.