Proton therapy of tumours in children

The objective of modern oncological treatment is to ensure for patients the maximum chance of recovery while minimising any adverse effects related to the treatment. Such objective may be achieved by means of proton therapy.

Under the paediatric treatment plan, the Proton Center in Prague utilises state-of-the-art technology as well as the experience of leading Czech and foreign oncologists with proton therapy in children. All the children treated at the Proton Center are indicated for proton therapy in cooperation with one of the paediatric oncology centres. Today, over 80% of paediatric patients are successfully cured.

Treatment methods for tumours in children include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biological therapy. The specific treatment your child will receive depends on many different factors. The treating paediatric oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you in detail.

Radiation or radiotherapy (which also includes proton radiotherapy) is generally one of the basic therapeutic methods used to tackle cancer in children. It is used in patients either as the sole therapy or, more often, in combination with other methods (most frequently surgery, chemotherapy). In order to limit the adverse effects of radiation treatment, the current trend is to limit radiotherapy application to strictly selected situations, and if radiation is necessary, then to use the most advanced treatment methods such as proton radiotherapy.

Unlike the commonly used radiation therapy, proton therapy is gentler and safer. Due to the precise proton beam targeting, we are able to significantly reduce the risk of adverse effects and to mitigate potential risks such as damage to the heart and lungs, the incidence of endocrine problems, growth disorders, impairment of sensory functions, intellectual impairment, damage to the kidneys and urinary tract, fertility impairment, and the emergence of secondary tumours.