Cancer Free. Since day one, these two words have driven UF Health Proton Therapy Institute to deliver the most advanced radiation treatment available, bringing the hope of a cancer-free future to thousands of cancer patients and their families.
What is Proton Therapy?
Proton therapy can be a valuable form of radiation treatment for many sarcoma patients. Proton therapy is a type of radiation that can be stopped at a prescribed depth in tissue, whereas conventional radiation continues beyond the tumor. Since bone and soft tissue sarcomas are often located near sensitive tissues and require high doses for a cure, it's important to treat them with the most precise type of radiation possible. Protons are easier to manipulate than traditional forms of radiation, so physicians are able to target tumors in delicate areas of the body with incredible accuracy. This means that more proton radiation is deposited in the tumor, minimizing harm to other tissues. Higher doses of radiation delivered to the tumor may lead to better outcomes, with a lower risk of side effects.
The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Soft Tissue Sarcoma Practice Guidelines (v.2.2022) explicitly state that “proton therapy can be used to improve therapeutic effect” in treating sarcomas. Proton therapy is permitted as standard practice for pediatric and adult patients on all Children's Oncology Group (COG) sarcoma protocols.
Proton therapy can be used to treat many kinds of sarcoma, including:
- chondrosarcoma/chondrogenic sarcomas
- osteosarcoma/osteogenic sarcomas
- Ewing sarcoma
- synovial cell sarcoma
- liposarcomas
- leiomyosarcomas
- rhabdomyosarcomas
- giant cell tumors
- desmoid tumors/aggressive fibromatosis
- malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH)
- angiosarcoma
- malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs)
- alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS)
- aclear cell sarcoma (CCS)
UF Health Proton Therapy Cancer Experts
As a major non-profit academic medical center, the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute has treated more than 12,000 patients and led the way for innovative cancer care in the Southeast U.S. since 2006. As an academic health center, our published research is setting the standards for proton therapy cancer care worldwide, with dozens of clinical trials and more than 350 published research articles in peer-reviewed journals.
When you become a patient at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, you are assured of receiving the highest quality cancer care as measured by state and national standards. We are committed to delivering the best possible patient outcomes. Our 125+ employees are dedicated to delivering proton cancer treatment in a way that takes the entire patient into account, so you can keep living life to the fullest.
Are you a candidate for Proton Therapy?
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