Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions are important. It’s likely that others also have the same questions. Some of the most frequently asked questions are:

What is proton therapy?
What are the benefits of proton therapy?
What cancers are treated with proton therapy?
Can proton therapy treatment be combined with other cancer treatments?
My child was diagnosed with cancer. Is proton therapy an option?
Is proton therapy the same number of treatments as conventional radiation?
How long is proton therapy treatment?
What are the side effects? Are they the same side effects as conventional radiation?
Do I have to change my diet?
Do I have to quit my job?
What makes this center different from the other proton therapy centers?
Can you work with my medical oncologist? What relationship do you have with my other health providers?
Can I get a consultation by telemedicine from another city?
Do I have to have a doctor’s referral?
Does insurance cover proton therapy?
What is the cost of proton therapy treatment?
Do I need to move to Irving during proton therapy treatment?
Can you help me find lodging and services?
Does the proton therapy center offer clinical trials? If so, what are the benefits?

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.

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.

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.

Q: Can proton therapy treatment be combined with other cancer treatments?

A: Yes. Proton therapy may be used alone or in combination with other forms of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, conventional radiation therapy, and surgery, among others.

When patients require multi-modality care, whatever can be done to minimize the side effects and the toxicity is important because it's better for the patient. When therapies are combined simultaneously, it can be toxic. It's not unusual for people to require dose reductions for chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, thereby not fully penetrating the tumor to the best of our ability. We're seeing an improvement in outcomes in multi-modality treatment courses, allowing for all partner therapies to be better tolerated.

Andrew K. Lee, M.D., M.P.H.
Read the full article.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.