Decatur, TX – Helping esophageal cancer patients effectively fight the disease while also lowering the likelihood of treatment-related side effects has long been a concern for medical professionals. Researchers are finding a relatively new alternative to regular radiation therapy may offer some advantages. Proton therapy has held up well in studies related to cancer-killing effectiveness and decreased side-effect risks, as well.

“Proton therapy works in a similar fashion to other forms of radiation, but the nature of this procedure offers more precision in targeting,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise. “This precision, in turn, enables doctors to effectively increase the dosing of cancer-killing proton beams while helping protect and preserve nearby healthy tissue. It’s the ability to spare healthy tissue so readily that makes proton therapy so attractive.”

To find out more about the potential effectiveness of proton therapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore undertook a study involving 600 patients with the disease. The results showed that patients treated with proton therapy not only had positive treatment results, but they also presented with a reduced incident rate of blood abnormalities, appetite loss and nausea often associated with more traditional forms of therapy.

“While the jury is still out on proton therapy because of its relative newness and the costs associated with the treatment, the results of the Maryland study add to a growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of proton beams in killing certain forms of cancer,” Dr. Echt says. “The potential this form of therapy has to offer is tremendous.”

People who are diagnosed with any form of cancer are urged to explore all their treatment options closely. The best recommendation for treatment will depend on the case specifics unique to the patient.

About North Texas Cancer Center at Wise
North Texas Cancer Center at Wise, a division of Choice Cancer Care, is now operating as the Cancer Center at Wise Regional and is one of the most renowned cancer treatment centers in Texas. The center unites some of the best cancer doctors and surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Our expert team delivers superior cancer treatment in Texas, with the best results available.