Proton Therapy Center in Madrid

Proton therapy at the Quirónsalud Clinic

- now available for patients from Ukraine.

Recently, proton therapy has become very popular all over the world - the most modern method of radiation therapy for clearly localized tumors. This method was one and a half to two times more effective than traditional x-ray therapy. However, it is much better tolerated and causes fewer side effects. In this regard, it is widely used in pediatric oncology. And very often it is the only real alternative to surgical treatment (when it is impossible), as well as the method of choice for malignant tumors of the eye, brain and spinal cord, tumors of other organs and liver metastases.

Proton therapy is a variant of radiation therapy with a stream of elementary particles

It is used, like conventional radiotherapy to treat tumors. Radiotherapy uses photons - neutral particles that are emitted by a linear accelerator, and in the case of proton therapy - a stream of positively charged heavy hydrogen nuclei. They have the same effect on living tissue, but the streams of these particles themselves are distributed differently in the body. These differences are associated with different possibilities and side effects of the methods.

• The flux of X-rays (photons) is quite strongly scattered in the tissues. On the one hand, this reduces its damaging effect at the target point, and on the other hand, power cannot be increased due to the radiation effect of the beam on healthy tissues along its path, around it and behind it.
• The energy of protons is distributed differently. Partially, in a small amount, it is lost on the way to the goal, but the bulk affects the tumor. After this powerful peak surge, the energy of the flow drops to almost zero, and the tissues located behind the tumor or near it do not suffer from radiation.

Features of the procedure:

For proton therapy, it is important to create technological conditions for the formation of an exact match of the proton flow shape to the tumor shape with an error of no more than a few millimeters. The flow of protons is formed and accelerates in a spiral, then passes through special diaphragms and holes made individually for each patient, thereby ensuring that the flow shape and tumor are consistent.

Due to such accuracy and minimal release of energy outside the tumor, the side effects of proton therapy are much less pronounced. And this allows you to increase the dose and make the treatment even more effective. And most importantly, use of proton therapy in oncology in children, in contrast to conventional x-ray therapy, which is accompanied by side effects that are dangerous to them.

Proton radiation therapy is a rather complicated method. It requires not only thorough preparation, but also the participation of highly qualified specialists (oncologist, radiologist, dosimetrist, medical physicist, specially trained paramedical personnel). In the world, you can count on the fingers the centers of proton therapy, and the installations themselves are no more than 50. They are mainly located in the USA and Western Europe. Not so long ago, a proton therapy unit appeared in the network of Quirónsalud clinics in Spain and combined modern technological equipment with the best doctors. The necessary detailed information can be found at https://polymedex.org/

Polymedex experts are always ready to help you.

The course of treatment (depending on the nature of the tumor) lasts from several days to six to seven weeks. This is a whole team of specialists. First, the tumor is visualized and using computer programs they build its three-dimensional model, very accurately determining not only its size, but also the nature of the placement. Based on this, regimes and doses are selected.

To conduct accurate exposure, the most important is to ensure the immobility of the area of ​​the body with the tumor. If it is located on the head or neck, an individual mask is made; if below, the fixing structure of plastic and soft elements in full growth is made.

A radiation session lasts one minute, and preparation takes about half an hour. Constantly, with an accuracy of a millimeter, it is necessary to clarify the position of the tumor, correctly place the patient and adjust the equipment.

In what cases is treatment carried out?

Proton radiation therapy is indicated for tumors and metastases that have a specific localization.

It is indicated for patients with:

• melanoma of the eye (preservation of vision is possible);
• primary tumors and metastases of the liver and pancreas;
• carcinoma of the lung and bronchus;
• breast cancer
• prostate cancer;
• spinal tumors;
• malignant formations of the brain and spinal cord, head and neck;

This list is constantly updated, new treatment protocols appear.

The benefits of proton therapy

To achieve the effect (inhibition of growth, complete destruction of the tumor), the primary or preliminary surgical stage of treatment is not needed. Very often, only proton therapy is sufficient.
The method has been successfully used in patients with tumors inaccessible for removal (brain stem).
High dose and extreme accuracy. This explains the effectiveness of this method (about two times higher than other types of radiation treatment), and significantly fewer side effects.
It is widely used to treat children with minimal risk of damage to healthy tissues.
Proton therapy has a small number of contraindications.
Good tolerance even in the presence of serious concomitant diseases diabetes mellitus, GB, IHD
The feasibility of proton therapy will be determined by clinic specialists.

How to find a clinic for treatment using proton therapy?

There are not many proton therapy centers in the world. We in Polymedex HG are ready to provide all necessary information and organise a full treatment for you in the best medical facilities abroad, such as Quirónsalud clinics in Spain.  The necessary information is on the site https://polymedex.org/
Polymedex experts are always ready to help you.