Benefits And Side Effects Of Proton Radiation TherapyProbably no disease is as clouded by misinformation and strange notions as cancer. Fluoridation is often met with opposition by those alleging cancer among the dire consequences, although there is no specific scientific evidences for the claim. Another popular error is belief that cancer is contagious. It is not. Some believe that proton radiation therapy is highly risky, which it is not. Then too cancer is thought hereditary by many but although some small statistical support exists for this view and controlled experimental inbreeding does produce mice and guinea pigs susceptible to cancer, human marriage is so random that there is very little cause to fear inheriting cancer. Since cancer is so widespread-occurring in one of every six it is not especially strange for it to appear several times in several generations of a family. Such events are invariably cited as proof of a familial tendency, whereas they are simply coincidences. That an injury can cause cancer is another widely held belief, but the weight of medical opinion is to the contrary. There are those who hold cancer to be caused by smallpox vaccination, by tomatoes by aluminum pots. There are others convinced that cancer can be prevented by eating uncooked vegetables, vegetables grown only with organic fertilizers, brown sugar, blackstrap and grapes-all equally without demonstrable proof. Cancer Diagnosis The only certain diagnosis of cancer is made by examining a thin slice of the tumor under the microscope after it has been stained in such a way as to make clearly visible the various structures in and around the cells. The same method establishes the nature of benign tumors. Even though cancer is strongly suspected on other grounds, every effort will be made to obtain a biopsy before undertaking definitive curative treatment and often before deciding on the method of treatment. In such instances reliance must be placed on the history, physical examinations and other tests and examinations. Treatment of cancer may be curative or when cure seems impossible palliative. For many years the public was taught that there are three main methods of treatment surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. These are still accepted and reliable, but they have changed considerably and improved tremendously. Proton radiation therapy is an accurate form of radiation therapy. This treatment has proved its success by reducing healthy tissue damages. Proton radiation therapy has very few side effects. How does Proton Radiation Therapy work? Since 1940 methods of generating and applying radiation therapy have increased spectacularly. X-rays produced by 1 and 2 million electron volts of electricity are employed, as are beams from powerful short wave emitters, such as the betatron and linear accelerator. These latter rays actually particles penetrate deeply and can be made to concentrate at any desired point within the body. Proton therapy like any other form of radiation therapy emits high rays onto the target tumor. These rays damage the cells and stop their growth. Due to its enormous size the protons tends to scatter and the beams are focused on the tumor thus reducing the damage of surrounding tissue. Proton radiation has a certain range and it does not penetrate beyond distance. It is mainly used to treat lung, brain, and prostrate cancer. Proton radiation therapy accurately targets and kills tumors; both deep seated or near the surface by minimizing the damage. This is highly preferred as compared to other forms of treatment where the conventional radiation damages the surrounding radiosensitive tissue. This treatment is highly effective on pediatric patients where the action of secondary tumors is of great concern. This type of therapy treats cancer as surgery would do but in some cases surgery does not provide results when cancer is spread microscopically beyond the local site. The patient's interest will be best served if at every point of decision he or she errs on the side of caution and takes the course of making sure. |