Proton therapy for children

While we carefully target radiation therapy at tumors, existing options can still harm nearby tissue despite our best efforts. A newer approach, proton therapy, promises to provide the same effective treatment while reducing short-term side effects and protecting long-term health.

We’re participating in several clinical trials to further determine how proton therapy compares to standard radiation therapy for certain cancers. Your care team can help you decide if proton therapy is right for your child and make the arrangements. We deliver treatment at the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center in Warrenville.

Benefits of proton therapy for childhood cancer

Standard external radiation therapy uses X-ray beams. By contrast, proton therapy, or proton beam therapy, delivers different energy particles called protons. They contain the same power to provide treatment, but don’t go all the way through the body like X-rays. Doctors control the depth of treatment, limiting damage to healthy tissue and protecting sensitive structures such as organs.

While children need to take breaks between sessions of standard radiation therapy, they can often continue straight through proton therapy. Most children can return to their normal routines right after treatment.

Proton beam therapy through Advocate Children’s Hospital

Our doctors and others are testing proton therapy for several types of pediatric cancer, including:

• Brain and spinal cord tumors, treated through the neurosciences center at Advocate Children’s Hospital
• Retinoblastoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Sarcomas
• Neuroblastoma

If proton therapy provides a good fit for your child, our Child Life specialists coordinate sessions with any other needed cancer treatment. They help you prepare for each appointment and know what to expect. They can also help you understand insurance coverage for proton therapy and direct you toward financial assistance and other family cancer support.

Proton therapy procedure

Before arranging proton therapy, we scan the tumor that needs treatment, either with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These scans require your child to hold still. Our specially trained care team helps children stay calm.

Proton therapy visits last 15 to 30 minutes, enough time to set up the room and provide the therapy. Proton therapy is given with your child lying on a table. A radiation technician sets up the machine and makes sure your child is comfortable. Family members and medical providers then leave the room for their safety.

During treatment, the equipment might move around your child’s body to deliver the protons.

Proton therapy side effects

Our radiation oncologists talk to you beforehand about possible side effects from proton therapy. We help you make a plan to watch for certain issues. We make sure you know what to do if those issues are spotted and how you can ease them for your child.

Proton therapy does not cause pain, but can lead to short-term side effects such as:

• Fatigue immediately after treatment
• Red or irritated skin
• Dry, swollen or peeling skin

Our Pediatric Oncology Survivors in Transition (P.O.S.T.) program watches for longer effects of treatment while helping children adjust to life after cancer.