Due to its abilities to deliver high doses of radiation, it has recently become an increasingly sought after treatment option. Proton Beam Radiation, discovered in the early 1940's, is produced by particle accelerators called cyclotrons or synchotrons originally designed for use in nuclear physics. The first record of its potential use in cancer treatment was published in the Journal of Radiology in July of 1946, and the first human treatments were performed at the Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory in 1955. Conformal, or three-dimensional, indicates that the radiation beam is conformed or shaped to fit the contour of the organ or tumor to be radiated. The advantage of Proton Beam Radiation Therapy over conventional external beam radiation is its accuracy.
Physicians are able to deliver higher doses of radiation precisely to the site of the tumor.
The outcome is a reduced risk of radiation damage to other organs such as the bladder and rectum, one of the major risks associated with conventional radiation therapy, as well as a reduced risk of incontinence commonly associated with other forms of prostate cancer treatment. Once the necessary photos have been taken, the treating physician traces on a computer screen the tumor or organ to be irradiated. Next, a group of physicists and dosimetrists create a treatment plan by generating a series of proton beams which are carefully designed to enter the patient at a variety of angles and targeting the tumor or target organ. A study of 645 men with prostate cancer at Loma Linda found that Proton Beam Radiation Therapy was as effective as radical prostatectomy four years after treatment. Activities continue and momentum is building.