The founder and lead surgeon of the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise talks about this alternative treatment.

Decatur, TX – Proton therapy may offer a better way to treat children with a common malignant type of brain cancer while causing few side effects in the process. The findings of a recent study are shedding light on this relatively new form of treatment’s benefits in treating not only pediatric brain cancer, but other forms of the disease, as well.

“Proton therapy is similar to traditional radiation therapy, but the procedure provides a mechanism for being much more precise with delivery,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise. “As the benefits of this alternative become more widely studied and verified, the use of proton therapy is starting to grow in acceptance and availability.”

A recent study dove into the potential benefits of proton therapy for treating children with medulloblastoma, which is a rapid-growing brain tumor that develops at the base of the brain. This form of cancer is typically treated with surgery, chemotherapy and traditional radiotherapy. Because the tumors grow at the base of the brain, however, treatment quite often results in long-term side effects. Researchers wanted to find out if proton therapy could help overcome those side effects, or lower the risks of them developing. As it turned out, the study showed proton therapy was as effective in treating tumors as traditional radiation while offering the ability to provide greater protection for nearby tissue to reduce function loss.

“Proton beam therapy is designed to provide greater precision in how radiation is delivered to a tumor,” says Dr. Echt. “The study found this advantage enabled brain tumors to be treated effectively while sparing healthy tissue in the process. The end result of the study showed survival rates that were similar between the two forms of treatment, but proton therapy produced a lower side effect risk.”

Proton therapy has been proven to be a highly effective means for treating a variety of cancers. This form of treatment, however, is not yet widely available. As more research supports its benefits, availability is beginning to grow.

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.