BayCare is proud to be the first health care system in West Central Florida to offer pioneering proton cancer treatment. Proton therapy is a highly advanced form of radiation therapy that uses precise proton particles to target and treat tumors with exceptional accuracy while sparing healthy tissue.
Fred J. Woods Radiation Therapy Center
4508 N. Habana Ave.
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 870-4246
Patients battling cancers near delicate or vital organs or body parts are the best candidates for proton therapy. Examples of these cancers include:
Proton therapy shows benefits in protecting neurologic functions like speech, vision and memory. By sparing normal brain tissue, proton therapy can reduce the chance of long-term cognitive decline when treating brain cancer.
Head and neck tumors near the skull base can lie near important nerves, blood vessels or the brain stem. Proton therapy can avoid these structures with millimeter accuracy and reduce negative effects to these sensitive areas. In cancers located near the mouth, proton therapy has also been shown to better spare the tongue, leading to improved long-term preservation of taste.
Proton therapy can help shape the treatment to reduce damage to the bladder, bowels, genitalia and other pelvic-area organs. This may help preserve important pelvic functions in the long term.
By minimizing radiation to the heart and lungs, particularly for tumors on the left side of the body closer to the heart, protons help avoid unnecessary heart exposure, reducing the risk of heart damage or heart attacks, making proton treatment potentially safer.
Proton therapy can precisely target tumors near or around the spinal cord, reducing the risk of damaging nerves that control movement or sensation. It minimizes potential damage to the esophagus, lungs or heart, which are often located in front of the spine during conventional radiation treatment.
Proton therapy may limit unnecessary radiation dose to critical organs like the liver, kidneys and bowels. Sparing the kidneys and liver with protons is especially beneficial for patients who need these organs to function well, so they can continue receiving chemotherapy and other anti-cancer treatments from their oncologists.
Proton therapy is particularly effective in treating hard-to-treat bone tumors, such as chordoma and chondrosarcoma . It can deliver a very high dose of radiation while safely minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
Proton therapy can provide long-term benefits for pediatric patients, specifically the ability to limit damage to healthy, growing tissue near tumors in children. This treatment not only reduces short-term side effects but also promotes healthier growth by sparing developing tissue from radiation in this vulnerable young population. BayCare’s proton center is a vital and advanced resource for children battling cancer in Tampa Bay.
Proton therapy is a specialized treatment that isn’t for everybody. Many times, traditional photon (X-ray) radiation provides the same or better treatment as proton therapy. Your doctor’s decision about using proton therapy will be based on the body area and type of cancer requiring treatment. Studies show only 10-15 percent of all patients receiving any type of radiation therapy showed a meaningful benefit from protons. BayCare’s multidisciplinary cancer care team will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your unique needs and to see if you’re one of the special cases where protons may offer a benefit. If proton therapy is deemed appropriate for you, then our team of experts will guide you through the process and work with you and your insurance company to ensure a smooth access to treatment.
Patients treated with proton therapy more commonly experience mild skin pinkening (similar to sunburn) in the treatment site and fatigue. Both side effects resolve after treatment. Other side effects depend on the part of the body being treated and may include temporary difficulty eating or drinking, mild headaches, mild nausea, loose stools or other side effects. Talk with your radiation oncologist about what to expect during and after treatment.
Call (813) 870-4160 or fill out the form to ask for a referral to a BayCare cancer expert.
