When breast cancer spreads or metastasizes, the brain is often affected. Different therapy methods are available including proton therapy. Side effects may occur. Proton therapy centers are available at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Mass General Hospital, Indiana University, the University of Florida, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX and at the INTEGRES Cancer Campus in Oklahoma City, OK.
What Is Proton Therapy And How It Works
Proton therapy is a form of radiation therapy that uses proton energy. Protons are positively-charged particles found in atoms. Proton therapy works by the process of ionization, whereby changes occur in the molecules of cancer cells through exposure to the proton therapy. This includes those that have spread from the breast to the brain.
These changes are especially evident in those cells that contain DNA or genetic material, When the DNA is damaged through these changes, cells cannot perform their functions, in particular their ability to undergo division or proliferation processes. When this occurs, the development of enzymes occurs in an attempt to rebuild the DNA areas that were damaged.
Proton therapy allows for radiation to be delivered in higher doses than are possible in conventional radiation. When this occurs, damage to the cancer cells evident in the brain metastasis is more extensive, thus preventing the enzymes from being able to repair DNA injury adequately enough.
Cancer cells exposed to proton radiation cannot repair themselves as well as normal cells, resulting in more permanent damage to cancerous cells and their subsequent death.
Who Can Receive Proton Therapy
You will need to ask your oncologist if you are a good candidate for proton therapy. He can make the determination based on how much brain metastasis is present, as well as other determining factors.
In addition, you may also need to check with your insurance company to see if proton therapy for brain metastasis as a result of breast cancer is covered. Some insurance companies do not cover it.
How the Treatment is Given
Early visits for proton therapy will most likely be devoted to preparation for the treatments, rather than a time to receive actual treatment, although this is possible. In any event, you will be placed into a machine called a simulator, and x-rays will be taken. These will be developed and read, and the films marked so that the doctor can pinpoint the location of the brain metastasis.
The places on your head will be marked in some way so that doctors will know where to direct the proton beam. These markings will be done in such a manner that they will remain over the course of the treatment.
From there, a set-up session will occur, where you will be placed on the table where the machine is located to make sure that the machine is accurately aligned. Afterwards, either at the same time or on another day, the actual treatments will be given.
You may go for treatment every day except on weekends for several weeks. Afterward, follow-up visits will be necessary. These are important and you should keep any and all follow-up appointments.
Side Effects
Side effects can include tiredness and skin irritation at the site(s) where the radiation beams enter the body. Because the beam can be targeted so closely to the brain metastasis, side effects are usually minimal.
Warning
Proton therapy exposes patients to neutron radiation from scatter foils and other components of the equipment. Some evidence may suggest that this exposure could cause a secondary malignancy, which is cancer that is caused by chemotherapy or radiation. This new cancer is not related to the previous one, and may not appear until some time has passed.
Tags: brain metastasis, Proton therapy, cancer cells, Proton Therapy, proton therapy