make this journey.”
Texas Center for Proton Therapy specializes
in pediatric oncology and uses national
protocols developed for children. The
center has specialized pediatric equipment
pediatric sub-specialists, clinical trials
specifically for children, and has a child life
specialist on staff to support patients and
families.
Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, and Gynecologic
Cancers
Proton therapy is effective in treating
many types of gastrointestinal cancers,
including esophageal, liver, pancreatic, and
stomach cancer. This may also include
patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.
Patients with genitourinary cancers,
including bladder, prostate, and testicular
cancer, and women with gynecologic
cancers, including cervical, ovarian, and
uterine cancers, also find benefit in proton
therapy.
For Dr. Lee, the extensive applicability
16 DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL • October 2021
of this treatment method in such a wide
variety of cancers, including tiny tumors
to rather large volumes, makes proton
therapy one of the most unique advancements
in cancer care available today. “The
breadth of cancers that proton therapy can
treat is a contrast to the specific and small
areas we can use this therapy, which is
a tremendous advantage for our patients
and their quality of life.”
Head and Neck Cancers
Treating head and neck cancers through
highly targeted treatment is essential to
maintaining who the patient is and how
they proceed through life. Typically, cancers
of the head and neck begin in the mucosal
surfaces or the tissue lining of organs.
Proton therapy’s ability to minimize stray
radiation exposure may also improve a
patient’s ability to tolerate concurrent chemotherapy.
Head and neck cancers treated
with proton therapy include cancers of the:
• Oral cavity
• Nasal cavity
• Paranasal sinuses
• Lymph nodes
• Larynx
• Naso and oropharynx
• Salivary glands
• Periorbital structures
• Lung Cancers
Lung cancer is still responsible for
the most cancer-related deaths in both
men and women in Texas, with the most
common type, non-small cell lung cancer,
accounting for approximately 80-85% of
lung cancers. Lung cancer can be treated
and is often preventable, but today, only
16% of men and 23% of women live more
than five years beyond their initial diagnosis.
Treatment options for lung cancer vary
depending on the stage and type of the
cancer. Proton therapy has been shown to
be an effective treatment for lung cancers
and should be considered, if the patient
is a candidate, to preserve as much lung
function as possible while improving
survival rates. Proton therapy can be used
for relatively large tumors with or without
concurrent chemotherapy and also small
tumors utilizing stereotactic approaches,
which may be less than five treatments.
Lymphomas and Sarcomas
Both categories of lymphoma, Hodgkin
lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma,
vary in behavior, treatment reaction, and
how each spread. However, proton therapy
has been shown to be effective in treating
both types. This is particularly important
in young patients and in those individuals
who may have received neoadjuvant
chemotherapy.
Cancers of connective tissue, sarcomas,
are also treatable via proton therapy.
This may be done preoperatively, which is
preferred, or postoperatively. Whether they
are soft tissue sarcomas, originating from
cells of muscle, fat, nerve, fibrous tissue,
deep skin tissue, or blood vessels; or bone
sarcomas such as osteosarcoma or Ewing
sarcoma; proton therapy can provide the
precision treatment that can help save
patients’ lives but also preserve function.
Connecting for Care
Dr. Lee, the physicians and staff at
Texas Center for Proton Therapy greatly
value the relationships with physicians
in the medical community and the
opportunity to improve oncologic care in
the region.
“We consider the proton therapy treatment
we offer to be part of the overall approach
to care offered by the patient’s care
team,” Dr. Lee said. “Collaborating with
other physicians to improve and save lives
together is truly an honor.” DMJ