An Oklahoma man has become the first person in the US to undergo proton therapy for the treatment of anal cancer, according to various news outlets.
Dennis Starbuck of Durant, Oklahoma was diagnosed with anal cancer earlier this year at the age of 67 following a prostate exam. According to National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines, Starbuck was looking at either the broad spray of external-beam radiation therapy or cisplatin-based chemotherapy—both options seemed to cut too wide a swath through the body just to kill the cancer, so he did his homework and found proton therapy. .
Proton therapy is fundamentally the same as traditionally radiotherapy in that they share a mechanism of action—molecular damage to the DNA, inducing apoptpsis or cell death. However, proton therapy is far more targeted and selective,
According to the National Association for Proton Therapy, proton therapy allows radiation oncologists to deliver higher doses of radiation to tumors while lowering the effects on healthy tissue.
CANCER TYPE(S)
Anal cancer
TREATMENT TYPE(S)
Proton therapy
By Ross Bonander
Source
- The Durant Daily Democrat
The information provided on CancerTreatment.net is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational purposes and does not constitute the practice of medicine. We encourage all visitors to see a licensed physician or nutritionist if they have any concerns regarding health issues related to diet, personal image and any other topics discussed on this site. Neither the owners or employees of CancerTreatment.net nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
