Is proton radiotherapy more effective than photon radiotherapy?
No. Proton radiotherapy is thought to be equivalent for disease control as photon radiotherapy. The major benefit of protons is that less normal tissue is irradiated and there are therefore fewer side effects. How can I find out if my child is an appropriate candidate for proton therapy? The first step is to have your doctor fax or e-mail a summary of your child’s history for our radiation oncologists to review. If the doctors decide your child may be eligible, you will be asked to send materials for our team to review (See Conference Review Check List). If my child is an appropriate candidate for proton therapy, when will treatment begin? What happens next? Timing of proton radiation depends on many factors, including the optimal time for radiation in your child’s care. The first step is to verify that you insurance will cover proton radiation. Several appointments need to be scheduled to do the planning for radiation, and radiation usually begins approximately two weeks after the pla