An Overview of Proton Therapy (CE Nurse)

Dr. Lane Rosen, of Willis-Knighton Proton Center, offers an overview of proton therapy as a treatment option for cancer patients. Dr. Rosen describes the history of proton therapy, the differences between proton therapy and conventional radiation therapy, and details some of the common pathologies treated with proton therapy.

Objectives

• Participants will be able to recall the differences between proton therapy and conventional radiation therapy.
• Participants will be able to identify the specific physical properties that make proton therapy effective in the treatment of cancer.
• Participants will be able to understand the educational and training process required to practice proton therapy.

Outline

1. A History of Proton Therapy
• Used for decades, became more common in 1990’s-2000’s
• Proton vs photon
2. Differences between linear accelerator and cyclotron
• Compton effect, photoelectric effect
• Cyclotron used for acceleration
• Large housing units
3. Pathologies treated with protons
• Breast
• Brain
• Lung
• Esophagus
4. Training and Education
• Limited opportunities
• In house training
• Demanding on every aspect of department
• Set up and positioning
5. Expansion of proton
• IMPT [pencil beam]
• New 1 room machines
• Pediatrics
• 1 in 4 patients could benefit from proton
• Randomized breast trial
6. Growth
• International markets