Photon radiation therapy is among the first-line treatments in oncology, with almost half of patients receiving it. But sometimes the tumor is located close to the vital organs, which are dangerous to irradiate. In such cases, proton beam therapy is a suitable option. With proton therapy, it is not the healthy body tissues that receive the radiation but the target only – a neoplasm or its metastases. Proton therapy is considered more efficient and more sparing than traditional irradiation protocols.
How does proton therapy work?
The ionization process, which starts when protons come into contact with molecules, changes the properties of atoms and, consequently, the whole molecule.
These crucial changes are the basis of the positive effect of any radiation therapy. By ionizing, radiation destroys the molecules that make up a cell, including DNA. By destroying DNA, radiation stops basic cellular processes, particularly the cell’s ability to divide.
Proton therapy and conventional radiation therapy are pretty different in how they act. A typical beam of photons ionizes healthy tissues on its way to the tumor. This peculiarity of radiation energy distribution does not allow doctors to irradiate the tumor area precisely; thus, radiation spreads to adjacent tissues, leading to undesirable consequences.
Proton therapy minimizes radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and organs and thus reduces toxicity. The results of the ongoing studies suggest that this treatment has countless advantages over conventional radiation therapy.
How to choose the best proton therapy center?
Millions of people travel abroad annually to get cancer treated. And in every single case, people face the questions of how to assess the hospitals and ultimately which one to choose. These questions must be addressed responsibly as the choice of a hospital might determine the outcome of treatment.
Generally, there are several factors people should consider when looking for a medical center, including other patients’ feedback, the proper certification of a healthcare institution, the profiles of doctors, price policy of the center, and general information about entering the country the hospital is located in (including visa requirements).
It is essential whether the medical facility has national and international quality control certifications, which guarantees a high level of services, qualification of doctors, and modern equipment.
When it comes to proton therapy, you need to keep in mind that not that many hospitals practice or are specialized in proton therapy in general. However, there are top proton therapy centers to choose from. To save you from endless web search, visit the Booking Health website to check out the top proton therapy centers.
It is worth noting that each of the mentioned hospitals is a certified proton therapy center with an excellent reputation and successful statistics regarding proton therapy procedures, which allow receiving the best medical treatment in the world.
Receiving proton therapy during a lockdown
Being one of the most advanced techniques in medicine, proton therapy isn’t available at every hospital and most likely is not practiced at your place of residence. And if that’s the case, you might need to travel during a lockdown to undergo treatment. Regarding traveling, there’s nothing complicated if you confirm that this therapy for the life-threatening health condition cannot be postponed. How to arrange the treatment is another question.
With Booking Health, you don’t even have to think about it. The company takes upon all organizational aspects, including receiving an invitation from the hospital and issuing a medical visa for travel. Besides, Booking Health can help you choose the right proton therapy center for you, considering your requirements and preferences.
Booking Health can organize the best medical treatment in the world no matter where you’re from and the current situation with a lockdown at your place of residence. Learn more about proton therapy on the official Booking Health website and fill in the request form to start your treatment journey!