Andrew Lee, M.D., MPH, medical director of Texas Center for Proton Therapy served as the first physician in North America to treat patients with pencil-beam scanning, an advanced form of proton therapy. Dr. Lee discusses what to know about pencil-beam as a cancer patient and the benefits this leading-edge proton therapy treatment provides.

What is pencil-beam scanning?
Pencil-beam scanning, also known as spot-scanning, is an advanced form of proton therapy that delivers ultra-fine, targeted doses of radiation to each layer of a patient’s tumor. Essentially, our technology allows us to delicately paint a tumor from all angles on a three-dimensional map with “pencil-point” size proton beams. Texas Center for Proton Therapy is the largest pencil-beam proton center in Texas and one of the few centers nationwide that offer this form of proton therapy.

What differentiates pencil-beam scanning from other types of radiation treatment?
When compared to traditional proton therapy, pencil-beam scanning provides greater precision in treating patients, which we couldn’t accomplish prior to 2008. Additionally, this form of treatment is a prerequisite for Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT). IMPT is another highly specialized form of proton therapy that delivers a precise dose of radiation to tumors in tight spaces, or sensitive areas of the body, through a combination of pencil-beam scanning and other therapies – depending on the patient’s individual cancer type.

What are the benefits of pencil-beam scanning?
This form of proton therapy is non-invasive and performed as outpatient – allowing cancer patients to maintain their quality of life during and after treatment. Patients undergoing pencil-beam scanning may also receive other concurrent or sequential therapies, such as chemotherapy and/or surgery. This form of proton therapy treats tumors in sensitive areas where conventional radiation therapy may not be the best option. While every patient varies, common benefits include reduced amounts of radiation exposure to surrounding healthy organs and tissue, thus, reducing the risk of acute and long-term side effects such as fatigue, nausea, headaches, breathing difficulties, and dry mouth.

Which cancer types are commonly treated with pencil-beam scanning?
Pencil-beam scanning can treat a wide variety of tumors, specifically those located in complex and sensitive areas of the body, such as the central nervous, head and neck, chest, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and gynecologic systems. Cancers commonly treated with this form of proton therapy include head and neck, prostate, brain, breast, lung, and upper gastrointestinal. Patients who have tumors in these areas may benefit from pencil-beam scanning because of the technology’s precision and ability to treat each tumor based off its shape, size, and depth.

Where can cancer patients learn more about pencil-beam scanning?
We encourage patients to consult with their physician to determine if pencil-beam scanning is an option for their specific cancer type. Patients can also learn more and request an appointment today at Texas Center for Proton Therapy with no referral required.