Common Questions About Proton Therapy

Proton therapy is a highly-targeted form of radiation therapy that is effective for cancerous tumors throughout the body. This cancer-fighting technology is non-invasive and may reduce side effects, allowing patients to maintain their quality of life during and after treatment compared to other forms of conventional radiation therapy.

As new patients and their loved ones consider treatment plans, many may have questions about proton therapy, how it works, who is a good candidate for this type of treatment, and how it differs from other forms of radiation treatment. To address these misconceptions, below are common questions about proton therapy.

Q1: Is proton therapy experimental?

A: Proton therapy has been used to treat tumors for nearly 60 years, and in 1988, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved proton therapy for the treatment of cancers.

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Q2: Does insurance cover proton therapy?

A: Yes, many insurance plans cover proton therapy. Texas Center for Proton Therapy provides patients with financial counselors who help them to navigate the insurance approval process and be an advocate for their health. Our financial counselors work with patients to appeal their request. However, the process of getting proton therapy covered by insurance may take time and go through a few rounds of appeals depending on a patient’s insurance plan, cancer type, and stage of their disease. Once approved, patients may begin receiving treatment.

Texas Center for Proton Therapy participates in a wide range of insurance plans as well as Medicare, Medicaid, and select Health Insurance Marketplace plans. Visit our insurance information page to learn more about the plans we accept.

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Q3: Does proton therapy not work on certain types of cancer or at stages of the disease?

A: Proton therapy is used to treat a wide variety of cancer types. Anywhere conventional X-ray therapy is used, proton therapy may be a better option. A few forms commonly treated include brain, breast, esophageal, head and neck, gynecological, liver, lung, lymphoma, ocular, pancreatic, prostate, sarcoma, and many others. To determine if proton therapy is an option for them, patients can consult with their physician or learn more at texascenterforprotontherapy.com. Patients can also request an appointment at Texas Center for Proton Therapy or their nearest proton center, as many do not require a physician referral.

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Q4: Can only children receive proton therapy?

A: Both children and adults can be treated using proton therapy. While solid tumor pediatric cancer cases are one of the top groups that benefit from proton therapy, it can also be used to treat adults with cancerous tumors. Because proton therapy precisely-targets tumors, it helps to lower the risk of toxicity or damage to healthy tissue, protects neurological functions like speech or memory, avoids radiation to areas previously treated or is at a higher risk of recurrence, and allows adults to continue daily activities in between treatments with minimal side effects.

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Q5: Is proton therapy only used to treat localized or small tumors?

A: Proton therapy can treat a variety of tumors in the breast, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, and skin. It is also used to treat highly complex diseases such as:

  • Medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer
  • Eye cancers, like uveal melanoma or choroidal melanoma
  • Cancers in the central nervous system, like chordoma, chondrosarcoma, and malignant meningioma

To treat these diseases and complex tumors, Texas Center for Proton Therapy is equipped with a large machine, called a gantry, which can rotate 360 degrees around patients in precise coordination with a robotic treatment table. Using high-strength magnets, the gantry precisely delivers proton beam radiation to the tumor based on its shape, size, and depth.

One type of proton therapy, called pencil-beam scanning, is commonly used for tumors that are complex, irregularly shaped, difficult to reach, wrapped around other structures, or located near sensitive areas such as the brain and spine, head and neck, or chest. Texas Center for Proton Therapy also utilizes advanced image-guidance techniques to ensure accurate treatment.

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Q6: Is proton therapy better than other forms of X-ray radiation treatment?

A: In many cases, proton therapy may be the best form of treatment depending on the patient, cancer type, and stage of disease progression. However, whether it is proton therapy or standard radiation, all X-ray radiation treatments are designed to treat and kill cancerous cells. The benefits of proton therapy derive from its precision and ability to minimize radiation exposure to surrounding healthy organs and tissues.

Proton therapy helps to treat areas of the body sensitive to radiation exposure where highly complex cancer types are located such as prostate, left-sided breast, and the central nervous system which includes many head and neck cancers. Additionally, this form of treatment can reduce potential acute and long-term side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and skin changes. Patients should consult with their physician to discuss the best radiation treatment option for them and their individual cancer type.

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Q: Can I get a consultation by telemedicine from another city?

A: Yes. Telemedicine enables Texas Center for Proton Therapy physicians to connect directly with patients who need highly specialized care, even if they live many miles away. With telemedicine, patients across Texas have access to our extensive and diverse expertise in proton therapy, while saving time and expense by limiting travel to a distant treatment facility. It also offers patients options to visit with their doctor when traveling to the clinic is not ideal. 

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Q: Can you help me find lodging and services?

A: Yes, we have a patient support services team with access to many hotel and transportation options.

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Q: Can you work with my medical oncologist? What relationship do you have with my other health providers?

A: We work closely with your medical oncologist and other healthcare providers to coordinate your overall care. If you are a Texas Oncology patient, we already have an established relationship with your Texas Oncology physician. When your treatment is completed, you may return to your local physician for most follow-up care.

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Q: Do I have to change my diet?

A: The need for altering your diet depends on the location of your cancer. Your cancer is specific to you. We examine your cancer and give you a recommendation.

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Q: Do I have to have a doctor’s referral?

A: No, you do not have to have a doctor’s referral at Texas Center for Proton Therapy. Please contact us to see if proton therapy is right for you.

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Q: Do I have to quit my job?

A: No. While everyone responds to treatment differently, the side effects of proton therapy treatments are minimal and should not keep you from working.

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Q: Do I need to move to Irving during proton therapy treatment?

A: If you are within 1 ½ -2 hours outside Irving, you could probably drive in each day, but some patients may choose to temporarily relocate to the area. The patient support services team can provide information about the area, help secure lodging and transportation, and refer you to support groups.

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Q: Does insurance cover proton therapy?

A: Medicare and most major insurance carriers in the U.S. cover proton therapy. The Texas Center for Proton Therapy staff can answer your questions and advocate on your behalf with your insurance company.

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Q: Does the proton therapy center offer clinical trials? If so, what are the benefits?

A: Texas Center for Proton Therapy offers clinical trials for those who qualify. Radiation clinical trials are essential to the advancement of cancer treatment. Clinical trials allow you to be actively involved in your healthcare, access new treatments and expert medical care, and to help further medical research. We can discuss these options with you to evaluate if a clinical trial is right for you.

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Q: How long is proton therapy treatment?

A: Timing and duration varies depending on the patient, type and location of cancer. Treatment sessions typically last for 15-40 minutes. The complete course of proton therapy treatment can range from one to 30 sessions, lasting from one day up to nine weeks. A typical treatment cycle is Monday through Friday, for six to eight weeks.

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Q: Is proton therapy the same number of treatments as conventional radiation?

A: For all types of radiation treatment, the number of treatments will vary based on the type of cancer and the particular tumor. The complete course of proton therapy treatment can range from one to 30 sessions, lasting from one day up to nine weeks. Just as each person’s cancer situation is unique to them, the same is true for individual treatment plans.

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Q: My child was diagnosed with cancer. Is proton therapy an option?

A: Yes, proton therapy can be beneficial for children with cancer. Proton therapy is non-invasive and has fewer side effects than conventional radiation treatment, allowing young patients to maintain their quality of life during treatment and later as they age.

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Q: What are the benefits of proton therapy?

A: Proton therapy is a highly precise and targeted form of radiation therapy. It can target specific cancerous cells while leaving the healthy cells around it largely untouched, making proton therapy especially effective for tumors in sensitive areas. In addition, proton therapy is non-invasive and may reduce side effects, allowing patients to maintain their quality of life during and after treatment.

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Q: What are the side effects? Are they the same side effects as conventional radiation?

A: The side effects vary by the type of cancer and by patient. Proton therapy may have fewer side effects than conventional radiation, which allows patients to maintain their current quality of life during and after treatment.

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Q: What cancers are treated with proton therapy?

A: Proton therapy is effective in treating a range of different types of cancers and most solid tumor cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, head and neck, brain, and prostate cancers. This does not include some blood cancers, like leukemia. Many factors, such as overall health, are taken into consideration. Your cancer is specific to you. Proton therapy is not right for every situation. For those cancers where proton therapy is effective, we will evaluate your diagnosis to find the best option.

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Q: What is proton therapy?

A: Proton therapy is a highly targeted, precise form of radiation therapy. A giant machine called a cyclotron extracts protons from hydrogen atoms, accelerating them to almost the speed of light, and delivers the radiation with pinpoint accuracy. The protons destroy cancerous cells, while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, making proton therapy one of the most promising developments in cancer treatment.

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Q: What is the cost of proton therapy treatment?

A: The cost of proton therapy treatment depends on the type of cancer and the course of treatment needed. We have a dedicated patient benefit team that will work closely with you and your insurance company to confirm coverage.

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Q: What makes this center different from the other proton therapy centers?

A: Texas Center for Proton Therapy is one of only a few centers in the nation that offers pencil-beam scanning with cone beam CT. It is the ideal technology for irregularly shaped tumors near sensitive areas. In addition, pencil-beam scanning capability is a prerequisite for a proton center to offer intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). IMPT is a highly specialized proton therapy delivering a precise dose of protons, often to tight spaces.

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Texas Center for Proton Therapy is ready to help you fight cancer with one of the nation’s most advanced cancer-fighting technologies. You do not need a doctor's referral to be seen at the center.

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