Am I suitable for PBT?

Proton beam therapy is not necessarily the right treatment for everyone, but if you think you might benefit, do discuss it with your consultant.

If your consultant isn’t qualified to treat patients with proton beam therapy, they will be able to refer you to a consultant or clinical oncologist who has expertise in treating patients with proton beam therapy. You will be able to have a discussion with this doctor who can advise you as to whether proton beam therapy is a suitable treatment for you.

Whether you will benefit from proton beam therapy will also be discussed by your consultant at a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT). The multidisciplinary team includes specialist surgeons, oncologists and radiologists with expertise in treating your tumour type.

If proton beam therapy is considered an appropriate treatment for you, your case will also need to be presented by your consultant at a Technical Approval Panel at UCLH.

If the Technical Approval Panel agrees that proton beam therapy is the right treatment for you, our team will ensure you are always fully informed. They will liaise with everyone involved in your care on your behalf to book your treatment and ensure everything is sorted out for you quickly, and that any concerns you may have are minimised.

What are the benefits of proton beam therapy?

Research shows that proton beam therapy is considered an advantageous treatment option for certain types of cancer for several reasons:

• Precise targeting: Proton beams can be precisely aimed and controlled to deliver radiation to a tumour while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, which is important for tumours that are located near critical organs and tissue structures.
• Reduced side effects: By sparing healthy tissue, proton beam therapy can potentially reduce the risk of side effects and improve outcomes for patients.
• High dose delivery: Proton beams can deliver a high dose of radiation to a tumour, which can be particularly effective for certain types of cancers that are resistant to other treatments.
• Favourable outcomes: Studies suggest that proton beam therapy can result in high rates of tumour control and fewer side effects for certain types of cancer.