Apollo Proton Cancer Centre is equipped with facilities and expertise for both proton therapy as well as radiotherapy.
Proton therapy has a special role in the treatment of adenoid cystic cancer. This is because of multiple factors, which relate to the nature of the tumour, its interaction with proton therapy. In addition, since adenoid cystic cancers can travel along cranial nerves that arise in the brain, the target for radiotherapy / proton therapy is in proximity to the brain. Proton therapy ensures that the required dose can be administered adjacent to the brain, with less dose going to the brain. This results in better outcomes than other forms of radiotherapy, even in the treatment of inoperable patients.
Proton therapy, administered over 6-7 weeks helps reduce the dose to all neighbouring critical structures. This results in substantially decreasing the risk of early side effects and late consequences of treatment. During the period of treatment less dose to critical structures equates with reduction in the risk of blisters in the mouth and throat, less requirement of strong pain killers, less chance of weight loss, tube feeding, hospital admission or treatment interruption.
At APCC, proton therapy is administered using the latest pencil beam scanning technology on an IBA Proteus Plus. The sophisticated treatment unit comprises 2 gantries that can rotate around the patient and deliver proton therapy from multiple angles and a specialised treatment couch that is capable of moving and rotating to position the patient accurately for treatment. The treatment unit is equipped with various forms of imaging, X-rays, Cone beam CT and surface imaging to ensure accurate delivery of radiotherapy.
In addition to proton therapy, patients may receive treatment for adenoid cyctistic cancers on the RadixactTomotherapy unit, using helical tomotherapy. This advanced image guided radiotherapy technique is based on photons or X-rays,with a high degree of modulation to reduce dose to normal structures.
At APCC, all head neck proton and radiation treatments are carried out under the care of head neck specialised expert doctors who are supported by a team of medical physicists and radiotherapy technologists. At APCC, the treating team is supported by a group of services that help in the holistic management of head neck cancer patients.
