Is Proton Beam Therapy Available In Canada

Canada has cleared the way for the use of proton therapy in cancer.

Is proton beam therapy available in canada.

Founded in 1990 the napt advocates to ensure patient choice and access to affordable proton therapy and to encourage cooperative research and innovation to advance. Proton beam therapy is an advanced technique used to deliver radiation treatment but it is not available anywhere in canada except for vancouver which has a facility that treats only some eye. This is a private treatment centre in newport. 2014 oct cited 2016 sep 21 21 5 251 62.

Low energy proton beam therapy is available at the clatterbridge cancer centre in wirral to treat tumours of the eye. Because doctors can better control where proton therapy releases its highest concentration of energy proton therapy is believed to affect less healthy tissue and have fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy. Recommendations for the referral of patients for proton beam therapy an alberta health services report. Proton therapy was approved for use in canada by health canada in january 2015.

There is not yet enough evidence to recommend proton therapy as a routine treatment for prostate cancer. Proton therapy can cause side effects as the cancer cells die or when the energy from the proton beam damages healthy tissue. Proton beam therapy is also available in private treatment centres in the uk. Proton therapy is a relatively new type of radiation therapy for treating cancer.

It is possible to deliver high doses that destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. A small number of people in south wales may have proton beam therapy on the nhs at the rutherford cancer centre. So you would have to pay for this treatment or use private insurance if you have it. High energy proton beam therapy has been available at the christie hospital in manchester from late 2018.

The mevion s250 proton therapy system has become the first such system to receive a medical device license from health canada. Patel s kostaras x parliament m olivotto ia nordal r aronyk k et al. It is currently not available for prostate cancer treatment but that situation may change. The national association for proton therapy napt is a non profit organization founded to educate and increase public awareness about the clinical benefits of proton beam therapy.