Tissues and organs in children are very sensitive to radiation exposure. Moreover, children are more prone to developing secondary tumours than adults. If we want to increase the child’s chance of healthy development also after treatment, it is vital to make every effort to prevent the adverse effects of radiation exposure. In this respect, proton therapy is of extraordinary benefit for them.
Proton therapy reduces the radiation dose affecting the spinal cord for tumours located in its proximity. The risk of spinal cord damage is thus minimised.
Thanks to proton therapy, mental performance is preserved to the fullest degree.
Proton therapy reduces the dose affecting the middle and inner ear, which mitigates the risk of damage to the hearing or hearing loss.
Proton therapy minimises the exposure of the visual system to radiation. This subsequently reduces the risk of developing visual impairment and complications.
Unlike the more 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.
It is apparent that the proton beam irradiates only the target volume (craniospinal axis region), i.e., the radiation is targeted almost exclusively only at the tissue which is affected or likely to be affected. On the contrary, photon radiation, owing to its physical properties, significantly affects also the surrounding area of the healthy structure, which in this case includes the spinal cord, heart, lungs, liver, and intestines.
