Cancers we treat

About the cancers we treat

Paediatric

Proton beam therapy is an advantageous treatment for children, especially young children.

Because protons are so precise, more of the body is left untouched by radiation. This is especially important when treating cancer in children, whose bodies are still growing. The reduction in the amount of healthy tissue receiving a radiation dose can significantly reduce the risk of long-term side effects in later life.

For information about other private cancer treatments for teenagers and young people at UCLH please click here.

Skull base tumours

Proton beam therapy has proven to be of particular benefit when treating skull-based tumours which are often located near to the brain stem, spinal cord and healthy brain tissue. The precision that can be achieved with protons allows delivery to the tumour of the high radiation doses often needed and minimises damage and potential long-term side-effects to the normal tissues in these areas.

Head and neck

The head and neck area contain many critical structures which if damaged with radiation can have significant side-effects such as the inability to swallow and the loss of saliva. By using proton beam therapy, the risk of damage and potential long-term side-effects to the normal tissues in these areas can be reduced.

Spine/Sarcomas

Tumours in or near the spine can be in direct contact with nerves and the spinal cord, which control the function of arms and legs. Because of the precision that can be achieved with proton beam therapy it is uniquely suitable for treating tumours in the spine to the high radiation doses often needed, while minimising damage and potential long-term side-effects to the normal tissues in these areas.

Brain and Neurological

Proton beam therapy can limit the radiation received by critical structures such as the brain stem, spinal cord and healthy brain tissue, when treating brain and other central nervous system cancers, allowing effective treatment of the tumour while reducing radiation dose to normal tissues, so reducing long term side effects.

Prostate

Surgery and conventional radiotherapy treatments for prostate cancer can leave men with life-changing and debilitating side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and rectal urgency.

Proton beam therapy can reduce the dose to normal tissues and organs close to the prostate, which can reduce these long term side effects, including radiation-induced cancers.

Breast

Breast tissue is close to the heart and lungs, and so proton beam therapy can reduce the radiation dose to these tissues, which can reduce long term side effects, including heart disease and radiation-induced cancers.

Proton beam therapy for breast cancer will be available towards the end of 2024. Please call our team to find out more.

Lung

There are several critical structures that are located close to lung tumours, including the heart and healthy lung tissue. Proton beam therapy can reduce the radiation dose to these normal tissues, and so can reduce short term side effects such as pneumonitis (lung inflammation) and long term side effects including heart disease.