Proton Therapy is the Solution for Remember Many Patients with Breast Cancer Proton therapy is a good choice for your breast cancer if you have: How do I know if proton therapy will work • A need for radiation to the lymph for me? node areas. Many patients with breast cancer are good candidates • Preexisting heart or lung conditions. for proton therapy. If you would like to better understand • A need for treatment near your heart and lungs the use of proton therapy in your treatment, we can that puts you at risk of receiving extra radiation. work with you to schedule a consultation with a radiation oncologist. During the consultation, the radiation oncologist To learn more about treatment options for will discuss different treatment options with you and breast cancer, see www.SCCAprotontherapy.com determine if you will benefit from proton therapy. The or call 877-897-7628. radiation oncologists who practice at SCCA Proton Therapy Center use other forms of radiation to treat breast cancer, so they will provide you with an expert recommendation for your consideration.
Can proton therapy be used along with other kinds of cancer treatment? FOLLOW Yes. Proton therapy can be used in conjunction with SCCA Protons surgery and chemotherapy.
Is proton therapy covered by my insurance? LIKE Proton therapy is covered by many insurance providers. SCCA Proton Therapy Center SCCA Proton Therapy Center has financial counselors who are dedicated to guiding you through the insurance process. Please contact us at 888-984-7782 if you have questions about coverage.
References: 1. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer. Updated January 1, 2014. http:// www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003090-pdf.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2014. 2. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer in Men. Updated January 1, Transforming Cancer Care “The staff was like my second family. 2014. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/ webcontent/003090-pdf. pdf. Accessed July 8, 2014. 3. Moon SH et al. Radiother Oncol. 2009;90:66-73. 4. with Proton Therapy I knew I was going to miss this place once MacDonald SM et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;84(suppl 3):S113-S114. Abstract 281. 5. Ares C et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010;76(3):685-697. 6. Early my treatment was finished.” Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Lancet. 2005;366:2087-2106. 7. Deutsch M et al. Cancer. 2003;98(7):1362-1368. 8. Rubino C et al. Breast Cancer A Guide to Proton Therapy – Breast cancer patient Res Treat. 2005;89:277-288. 9. Darby SC et al. Lancet Oncol. 2005;6:557-565. 10. Darby SC et al. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(11):987-998. 11. Harris ER et al. J Clin Oncol. for Patients with Breast 2006;24(25):4100-4106. Cancer Radiation Therapy Proton Therapy is Highly Targeted with Proton Therapy: for Breast Cancer Less Exposure to Your Heart and Lungs Precise Proven Treatment for Breast Cancer
More than 232,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer What are the advantages of proton therapy Proton therapy are diagnosed in women every year, with another 2,300 versus conventional radiation for the These images show diagnosed in men.1,2 how proton therapy treatment of breast cancer? Lung can avoid radiation While proton therapy and X-ray therapy both treat Heart to surrounding tissues breast cancer by killing cancer cells when they attempt while delivering to divide and multiply, there is an important difference. maximum radiation X-ray therapy can deliver excess radiation that may X-ray therapy to the breast, chest cause side effects years, even decades, after treatment wall and lymph nodes. is completed.3-5 Side effects include heart and lung Lung disease and a small risk of secondary cancers.6-11 In order to decrease the risk of side effects, optimal Heart treatment dose to the breast, chest wall and lymph nodes is often reduced. Reprinted with permission by Dr. L. Christine Fang. For patients like you, whose treatment regimen includes A study found that the occurrence of major heart radiation therapy, it is important to be aware that proton events increases with radiation dose delivered to the What can you expect with proton therapy 10 therapy is an option that can decrease risk of damage to heart. Proton therapy can reduce the risk of these at SCCA Proton Therapy Center? organs such as the heart and lungs. heart events by lowering radiation exposure to the heart. It also reduces radiation to the lung and healthy breast • Proton therapy is given in a state-of-the-art tissue.3-5 By reducing dose to surrounding normal center with specialized medical equipment. organs, proton therapy allows maximum radiation Find out more. dose to tumor cells. • Treatment and care are given by a team of specialized doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals. To learn more about treatment options for breast cancer, see www.SCCAprotontherapy.com or • Most patients do not feel pain or discomfort call 877-897-7628. during treatment. Skin side effects can be treated with creams prescribed by your radiation oncologist.
• The time spent delivering proton therapy is only a minute or two, but the entire treatment session may take 45 to 60 minutes.
• After treatment, you will most likely be able to go right back to your daily routine.
“At every step of the way there was compassion and kindness—it’s true care.” – Breast cancer patient