Proton Therapy: A Precise and Effective Treatment for Cancer Patients
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Radiation therapy is a valuable asset in treating cancer patients, but it comes with a major challenge of ensuring that patients’ quality of life is enhanced and they can return to their routine lives as soon as possible.
Dr. Sapna Nangia, a senior consultant in radiation oncology at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, sheds light on advancements in cancer treatment, with proton beam therapy emerging as the future of modern radiation therapy due to its precision and efficacy in treating cancer. Proton therapy has come a long way in the last decade and a half, according to Dr. Nangia. It not only increases the chances of curing or controlling many types of cancer but also minimizes the immediate and long-term side effects of treatment, thus enhancing patients’ quality of life post-treatment.
The therapy is particularly advantageous for tumors located in sensitive areas such as the base of the skull or lung, oral cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, and pediatric cancers. There is currently only one pencil beam proton therapy set-up in India, located at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai. The pencil beam scanning precisely targets affected cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.
Dr. Nangia also expressed appreciation for the increasing awareness and accessibility of cancer facilities, even in small towns, and shared that the median life expectancy of cancer patients has increased by five years.
Re-reported from the story originally published in The Free Press Journal
