Proton therapy has been shown to be effective and less harmful in treating some types of cancer when compared to traditional treatments. Spain is on its way to becoming the European country with the largest public infrastructure to offer this solution that promises to save thousands of people and improve their quality of life.
The World Health Organization has predicted that in 2050 cancer cases will increase by 77% in the world, which translates into 35 million new diagnoses. To date, the most common methods to treat the condition are generally applied radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These options usually damage healthy tissues and cells, causing side effects to the detriment of patients’ well-being, even when they have overcome the disease. Specialists suggest that proton therapy has the potential to end this problem.
How does proton therapy work?
The University of Navarra Clinic (CUN) states that this technique is “the most precise and effective alternative to combat cancer.” He explains that the procedure uses a set of accelerated particles (protons) whose natural characteristics allow direct radiation to be directed at malignant tumors.
“Protons, due to their physical characteristics, specifically related to mass, do not suffer alterations in their trajectory towards the injury. They can deposit most of their energy within the neoplasm. Thanks to their property of sudden braking and unlike photons, used in conventional radiation, they do not radiate beyond that point,” adds the medical center. This translates into fewer short- and long-term effects on surrounding tissues, organs and cells.
The institution indicates that proton therapy sessions have an average duration of 25 minutes. Most of the time is spent on placement, orientation, and verification of image-guided instruments. Patients are exposed to irradiation for less than one minute.
The treatment is ideal for treating small tumors or those close to vital organs. It is recommended for pediatric patients and older adults with other pre-existing conditions. It is especially effective in eradicating ocular malignant agents, located at the base of the skull and existing in the primary central nervous system. Despite this, doctors have found benefits in other variants of the disease.
“Proton therapy in breast cancer incidences reduces radiation exposure to the heart and lungs. In prostate tumors, it minimizes the consequences in the rectum and bladder and safeguards urinary and sexual functionality,” according to the statements of Mauricio Cambeiro, radiation oncologist at the CUN Proton Therapy Unit, taken up by the specialized media. IM Medical.
Spain will lead public access to proton therapy in Europe
The cost of the therapy is the main barrier to making it a solution for the majority of cancer patients. It is estimated that A medical unit to provide this service has an average price of 40 million euros. The amount does not consider the expenses associated with the installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment.
Spain has obtained a donation that will allow it to overcome this problem, relatively. Currently, only two centers in the country offer proton-based cancer treatments, both based in Madrid. The Amancio Ortega Foundation has allocated around 264 million euros to activate 10 additional proton therapy machines in 2026. These will be installed in public hospitals in the autonomous communities of Galicia, Catalonia, the Basque Country, Madrid, Andalusia, the Canary Islands and Valencia.
Experts affirm that this technological deployment will place Spain at the forefront of oncological radiotherapy. However, they warn that there is a shortage of trained personnel to handle the devices. The Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology states that each instrument requires the work of five people. He estimates that there would be a shortage of around 50 doctors specialized in proton therapy to meet the care needs. Each room that offers this treatment in Europe sees between 200 and 250 patients a year.
The Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group organization indicates that there are 115 proton therapy centers around the world. The United States leads the list with 46. So far, 33 have been installed in Europe. Germany remains at the top with seven centers.
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