Why it's done

Proton therapy is used as a treatment for cancer and some noncancerous tumors. Proton therapy may be used as the only treatment for your condition. Or it may be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Proton therapy may also be used if the cancer remains or comes back after traditional X-ray radiation.

Proton therapy is sometimes used to treat:

• Brain tumors
• Breast cancer
• Cancer in children
• Eye melanoma
• Esophageal cancer
• Head and neck cancers
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Lymphoma
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pituitary gland tumors
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcoma
• Tumors affecting the spine
• Tumors in the base of the skull

Clinical trials are investigating proton therapy as a treatment for several other types of cancer.