Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center

About Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center

Being one of the largest hospital networks in Europe, the Quironsalud Group of Hospitals has yet again made commendable progress. QGH launched a new project in the last half of 2019 “Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center”.

The Proton Therapy Center is one of its kind equipped with the latest technology like the Proteus one irradiation technology, HD- CT scan, Surface control that helps to move targets, and a Monte-Carlo system for dose calculations.

The center’s infrastructure was carefully designed keeping in mind the comfort of patients. The center comprises a total of 5 waiting rooms, 2 rooms for consultations, and 2 rooms for post-anesthetic recovery.

One of the main objectives of the Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center is to be the central hub of technological advancements in medicines. The ultimate purpose of which is to develop treatment techniques that will benefit patients in the long run.

Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center has some brilliant radiation oncology experts like Dr. Raymond Mirabell, Dr. Karme Ares, Dr. Juan Castro, etc. in the treatment of a wide range of cancer. All these specialists have work experience of more than 20 years.

About Proton Therapy

Introduced for the first time in Spain, proton therapy is an innovative approach in radiation oncology. The technique is not just efficient in treating tumors of the eye, brain, etc but also is a safe and accurate procedure.

The therapy uses the Proteus one system for targeted radiation delivery, which is regarded as one of the latest technologies for radiation therapy.

What makes the Proteus one different from the preceding generations?

• Safe applicability
• Ability to rotate up to 220 degrees around the patient
• Delivering radiation beams from multiple angles after locating the tumor
• Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center plans to use this technology for the development of improved versions like flash or rotation therapy.

Another important component of the therapy is a synchrocyclotron. This technology helps in adjusting the speed of the proton as per the therapy requirements.

Mechanism of Proton Therapy

• The use of protons in the form of a radiation beam makes proton therapy unique. These protons are used to deliver high-energy beams onto the target tumor site.
• Once directed at the target the radiation beam releases a high amount of energy on the target which is the tumor.
• These radiations are intensity-modulated and prevent the cancer growth of cancer cells by destroying them.
• Since the radiation is only focused on the target, the neighboring healthy cells remain free of any negative impact of the radiation.
• This helps in decreasing the probability of secondary tumor development.

Proton therapy for tumor treatment

2-3% of cancer patients are suitable to undergo the new proton therapy. As per the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology, more than one thousand cancer patients can undergo proton therapy in Spain. Cancers that can be treated using this therapy are:

• Pediatric cancers
• Tumors of the spine
• Lung cancer
• Head & neck sarcoma
• Skull base tumors
• Breast cancer
• Ocular tumors

Why is proton therapy gaining popularity?

Owing to the characteristics of protons, the therapy is considered as one of the safest and modern radiation therapy technologies for the treatment of cancers as discussed previously.

Distinguishing features of the therapy:

• The radiation dose of proton therapy is adjustable depending on the need the patient
• Accurate radiation delivery enhances the antitumor activity
• Less impact on the healthy cells
• Pros of the procedure for cancer patients
• Least exposure of the healthy cells to the radiation beam, less probability of the development of secondary tumors and radiation dose depending on the types of cancer.

These plus points of the therapy help to improve the life quality of the patient.

Steps the patient has to go through at the Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center

• Preliminary diagnosis is the very first step that patients coming to Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center have to undergo. An interdisciplinary team of doctors (radio-oncologists, child-specialists, etc) goes through the previous reports of patients. This is done to make sure that the patient is suitable to undergo proton therapy.
• Next, this interdisciplinary team of doctors makes a customized treatment plan for every patient.
• At the initial visit to the center, radio-oncologists during the consultation discuss the entire treatment procedure with the patient and clear the doubts the patient might have.
• Once the consultation session is over, the patient undergoes diagnostics like an HD CT scan which helps in finalizing the treatment plan.
• Before the treatment begins patients are given custom-made masks which they have to wear during each therapy session.
• To create an ambient environment, before the start of therapy patients are given a list of video images from which they can choose the one they like. Philips Ambient® technology has given this video image concept to make the patients comfortable.
• After being positioned properly, the patient does not need to change their position. Because Proteus one rotates to around 220 degrees around the patient while targeting the tumor and delivering the radiation beam. The time duration of the delivery of radiation is only a few minutes.

Success Rate of the Proton Therapy

The success rate of this procedure might be similar or even comparable to other techniques of radiation therapy. But the safety of the technique is what makes it a better option