What is proton beam therapy?
Traditionally, X-rays have been used as a kind of radiation therapy to treat tumors and cancers in the human body. But with modern medical advances, a newer radiation therapy known as proton therapy that used positively charged particles called protons are being used to treat the same. These high-energy beams are used to treat tumors.
Proton beam therapy has shown positive results in treating multiple types of cancers. According to certain studies, proton beam therapy has shown fewer side effects in direct comparison to traditional radiation therapies. This is because doctors have better control over the direction of the radiations.
Why is proton beam therapy used?
Proton beam therapy, the modern-day radiation technique is used to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the human body. While it can be a sole treatment, it can also be used with other options such as surgery, medication, and chemotherapy.
Some of the most common types of diseases that require proton beam therapy include breast cancer, brain tumors, eye melanoma, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, tumors affecting the brain and the spine.
What are the risks involved?
Being a radiation therapy, proton therapy carries its own set of side effects and risks. These are usually caused due to the death of the cancer cells, and also because the radiations can often affect the healthy tissues as well. But, because of better control ability, it is considered safer than traditional therapy and affected fewer healthy tissues.
The side effects also depend on the affected region of the body, but in general, there are a few common side effects. These include:
- Because the body is subjected to energy, fatigue is witnessed in most cases.
- Headaches are another common occurrence during the span of the treatment.
- Eating and digestive problems can occur due to the impact of the radiation.
- Soreness and redness around the region undergoing treatment are witnessed in a lot of patients
Also read: Top 5 Differences Between Polyclonal & Monoclonal Antibodies
Spain as a destination for proton beam therapy
Proton beam therapy is still a new concept that is not easily available globally. But getting a proton beam therapy in Spain is not only easier but also a good option. Because of the advanced medical facilities, trained medical professionals, and experienced doctors, Spain is slowly gaining traction as a preferred medical destination.
In addition to this, the cost of proton therapy in Spain is affordable on a global scale. Several factors influence the treatment cost which includes the location of the hospital, time is taken for recovery, and even the age of the patient undergoing the therapy. For an adult, the treatment starts at 60000 Euros and goes up to 75000 euros for a child with anesthesia.
Some major hospitals for proton beam therapy in Spain are Quironsalud Marbella Hospital, Quironsalud Madrid University Hospital, and Quironsalud Barcelona Hospital.
MediGence is striving to connect the entire healthcare ecosystem of professionals and patients through a centralized platform, which is easily accessible from every part of the world. The telemedicine platform exposes its video conferencing and communications capabilities, which helps people connect and talk to a doctor or specialist from the comfort of their home.
