Proton Therapy Lowers Treatment Side Effects in Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Penn, CHOP study finds treatment is just as effective as photon radiation while improving quality of life - October 23, 2017

A recent study performed between Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has analyzed 6 years of pediatric head and neck proton beam therapy (PBT) and published their findings in the journal of Pediatric Blood and Cancer.

Here is a quick list of some of the key points:

• Cancers of the head and neck account for 12 percent of all pediatric cancers
• Study included 69 pediatric head and neck patients treated with PBT between 2010 and 2016
• 1 year after treatment 93 percent of patients were still alive and 92 percent did not experience recurrence
• Toxicities are measured on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the highest. No patients receiving PBT were above grade 3, while 46 percent of photon patients historically report 3 or 4 grade mucositis.

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