Proton therapy also reduces the likelihood of short and long-term side effects, enabling patients to maintain their quality of life with little interruption. OPINION STATEMENT: The application of proton beam radiation therapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer has grown tremendously in the past few years. These are the main benefits of treating head and neck cancer with proton beam therapy: Associated side effects are reduced, allowing for quicker recovery; Possible reduction of the experience of long-term dry mouth and swallowing function dysfunction Jennifer Vogel, MD, a resident in Radiation Oncology at Penn, is the study's lead author. Patients exploring cancer treatment options generally consider two main factors in their treatment decisions – Cancer Treatment Side Effects and Successful Outcomes.Proton therapy side effects may be fewer in number and less in severity than side effects from other cancer treatments. Compared to conventional X-ray radiation, proton therapy drastically reduces damage to tissues and organs near head and neck tumors 1,2,3, including those responsible for hearing, sight, taste, talking, eating, and swallowing. Proton Therapy Lowers Treatment Side Effects in Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Vital physical functions such as vision, smell, taste and swallowing remain virtually untouched when a patient is treated with proton therapy. Low-Dose Radiation a Possible “Game Changer” for Treating HPV-Positive Throat Cancer An MSK study has shown that HPV-related head and neck cancer can be treated with a sharply reduced radiation dose to prevent side effects. The benefits of treating head & neck cancer with proton beam therapy. The precise nature of proton therapy makes it an excellent option for the treatment of head and neck cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma. Other common side effects from radiation therapy to the head and neck can affect various parts of the body and can have an impact on 25% to 100 percent of patients. However, the physical properties of protons make IMPT more sensitive than photons to planning uncertainties. The current standard of care using modern photon radiation technology has … However the dose outside of the treatment region can be significantly less for deep-tissue tumors than X-ray therapy, because proton therapy takes full advantage of the Bragg peak. The results of dosimetric studies suggest that intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) could be of added value for HNSCC by being more effective than intensity-modulated (photon) radiation therapy (IMRT) for reducing side effects of … Penn, CHOP study finds treatment is just as effective as photon … Your risk of side effects, such as those affecting your sense of taste or smell, is reduced with proton therapy. Since proton therapy can deliver highly effective doses of radiation with minimal side effects, the risk of damage to non-cancerous tissue in the head and neck … Proton therapy allows for the effective treatment of complicated head and neck tumors, while minimizing the radiation dose to vital structures such as the eyes, mouth and brain. The physical characteristics of the proton beam offer important advantages versus widely used photon techniques in terms of radiation precision. This could potentially have a negative effect on the quality of IMPT planning and delivery. Researchers looked at 69 pediatric head and neck cancer patients treated with PBT at Penn and CHOP between 2010 and 2016. Proton therapy also reduces the likelihood of short and long-term side effects, enabling patients to maintain their quality of life with little interruption. The National Cancer Institute has a list of just he oral side effects of head and neck radiation therapy , and they include: Proton therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: A review of the physical and clinical challenges. At the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine, patients with head and neck cancers are being treated in clinical studies to confirm whether the dosimetric advantages of proton therapy shown in previous studies will translate to gains in treatment outcome and patient-reported improvements in side effects and quality of life. Use of proton beam therapy has expanded, with the number of proton centres rapidly increasing not only in the USA but also worldwide. Compared to conventional X-ray radiation, proton therapy drastically reduces damage to tissues and organs near head and neck tumors 1,2,3, including those responsible for hearing, sight, taste, talking, eating, and swallowing. Globally, widespread interest in proton beam therapy has led to multiple research efforts regarding its therapeutic value and cost-effectiveness. The quality of radiation therapy has been shown to significantly influence the outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. ... radiation therapy (IMRT) for reducing side effects of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is known for its particular effectiveness against head and neck tumors. But few studies have directly compared proton therapy radiation and X-ray radiation, so it's not clear whether proton therapy is more effective in prolonging lives.