Proton therapy is the most advanced and sparing type of radiation therapy. For the treatment by a beam of protons, powerful equipment is used that creates rays penetrating the patient's body. Carefully calculated radiation doses are delivered exactly to the tumor and destroy cancer cells without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues. Learn more about proton therapy

In traditional radiation therapy, X-rays or gamma rays (gamma-knife) are commonly used to treat cancer. X-rays pass through the tumor tissue, damaging not only affected, but also healthy cells along the way. In proton therapy, the energy of a targeted beam of protons is used. The special property of protons is that they release most of their energy at the final point of the path to the tumor site, practically without damaging the tissues located before the neoplasm, and are completely safe for the tissues and organs behind it. This property of the proton beam allows doctors to direct radiation precisely on the target, reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues and vital organs.

Specialists - oncologists of the center make a plan for irradiating cancer cells precisely conformant with the shape of the tumor and its depth. Careful calculation allows the doctors to deliver a higher dose of radiation to where it is needed - to cancer cells, while not touching healthy tissues and vital organs located next to the neoplasm. As a result, side effects from radiation (nausea, dizziness, weakness) are less pronounced and disappear faster than with conventional radiation therapy. And most importantly - the doctor has the opportunity to apply a much higher dose of radiation to the tumor, achieving a radical cure. The percentage of relapses with the use of a proton beam is noticeably lower than with conventional radiation therapy. Cure rate for some types of tumors reaches 95%. Radiation, getting inside the human body, has a very short life. After the end of the treatment, patients can leave the treatment room without the risk of becoming a source of radiation exposure to others. As a rule, patients lead an active lifestyle during and after the course of proton therapy. Many of them continue to work and exercise, while receiving treatment at the Center of proton therapy.

Choosing the right medical institution for cancer treatment is of paramount importance. The Center of Oncology of the Medical Institute of Berezin Sergey is the only medical institution in the country that offers patients the widest range of equipment used in modern radiosurgery and stereotaxic radiotherapy. When planning treatment for you, we focus on the clinical picture, the condition and shape of the tumor, the depth of its occurrence and the proximity of critical organs and structures. A wide range of tools in our arsenal allows us to choose and prepare an individual optimal treatment plan. The start of our proton therapy center, the country's first clinic, where proton energy will be used to treat cancer, is planned for the end of 2017. Proton therapy is the most advanced form of radiotherapy. The MIBS proton therapy center offers its patients:

  • the cutting-edge method of treating a wide range of oncological diseases
  • reduced side effects and minimal damage to healthy tissues
  • the most modern and best line of equipment in the Russian Federation
  • help of our oncologists, who have a huge experience in the treatment of oncology with modern methods of radiation therapy since 2007
  • opportunity to consult your case in the world's leading cancer centers, such as the MD Anderson cancer center, Scripps proton therapy center and others
  • an ambience of care and comfort
  • prices that are 2-3 times lower than in the countries of Europe, North America and Asia.

No, proton therapy is not an experimental or research method. It has been used in the USA in research centers for more than 50 years, and in hospitals - since 1990, that is, more than a quarter of a century. This is a generally acknowledged method adopted by a wide range of doctors, government agencies and insurance companies. The number of proton centers in the world is growing rapidly. According to forecasts, by 2018 their number will reach 88.

The best results proton therapy demonstrates in the treatment of patients with solid tumors having sharp boundaries. That is, in cases where the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Proton therapy is effective in treating a long list of cancers such as head and neck tumors, brain tumors, prostate cancer, lungs, esophagus, kidney and lymphomas. In view of the low traumatism for healthy tissues, this method is especially beneficial in pediatrics and for the treatment of tumors lying in close proximity to the vital organs - the brain and spinal cord, eyes, heart. Learn more about the different types of cancer treated with proton therapy.

After initial consultation with a radiologist, a plan for the treatment of the patient is drawn up. Topographic computer, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography are used to plan the treatment for the patient. The team working with the patient includes an oncologist-radiologist, a medical physicist, a radiologist technician and a nurse of the radiological department. Every specialist has his own task. The oncologist- radiologist diagnoses the disease and selects a dose of radiation. Together with a medical physicist, he determines the optimal way to deliver the chosen dose to the affected area. After which the shape and thickness of the beam of rays entering the tumor from different angles are calculated, as well as the dose delivered to the tumor. For the accuracy of calculations, images obtained with the help of computer, magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography are used. Since the proton beam should get into cancer cells with submillimeter accuracy, it is necessary to achieve fixation of the patient's body in the same posture throughout the course of treatment. For this, before the start of the course, individual restraint devices (face masks and bed pads) are manufactured, which will ensure the immobility of the patient during the procedures.

Treatment is done without hospitalization. Treatment with a beam of protons is painless, therefore anesthesia is not required. However, children tend to undergo proton therapy under anesthesia in order to achieve complete immobility of the small patient. Before the beginning of each procedure the patient is laid on the couch and fixed with an individually manufactured device. To make sure that the patient is positioned correctly, several x-rays are taken before each session. After that, the medical staff goes to the next room, where specialists monitor the process of treatment on the computer screen. During all the time of treatment, the staff is able to monitor the patient's position and, if necessary, adjust it. The duration of each session depends on the type of tumor and the stage of the pathological process. The proton beam irradiation itself lasts only 1-3 minutes, whereas the total length of stay in the treatment room, together with the preparation for the procedure, takes about 20-30 minutes.

Proton radiation after delivery to the target area of the tumor has a very short period of life. After completing the procedure, the patient can immediately leave the treatment room without fear of becoming a source of radiation exposure to others.

Yes. In many cases, lung cancer, cancer in children and lymphomas are treated with other types of therapy in combination with proton therapy. Depending on the case and type of cancer, proton therapy can be used in combination with traditional radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. A detailed treatment plan is discussed at the first consultation with the doctor.

Yes. The ability to accurately target a tumor makes proton therapy ideal for the treatment of cancer in children. The energy of protons is accurately delivered to cancer cells, while at the same time having limited influence on healthy tissues, which is vital for growing and developing children's organisms. As a result, the side effects from irradiation of malignant neoplasms are much less pronounced than with conventional radiation therapy, and the treatment is more easily tolerated by children. And later in life they develop less pathologies associated with the damages of growth zones. The development of secondary cancers is also markedly reduced. Tumors of the brain, head, neck, spine, heart or lungs are treated most effectively in children with the use of protons. Learn more about the types of pediatric cancers treated by proton therapy.