PROTON
BEAM THERAPY - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
News:
Proton beam therapy out
of reach for many with cancer
What's
in the news?
●
Cancer patients in India face twin
challenges when it comes to accessing proton beam therapy (PBT) - there are not enough facilities offering the
treatment, and the cost can run into
tens of lakhs of rupees.
Key
takeaways:
●
Radiation therapy using X-rays has long
been used to treat cancers and noncancerous (benign) tumors.
●
The PBT is considered a viable alternative
to radiation for treating solid tumours, especially for head and neck cancers.
●
At present, there are no government
facilities that offer proton beam therapy treatment in India.
Proton
Beam Therapy:
●
Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation
therapy that uses high-energy beams to
treat tumors.
●
It uses
protons rather than x-rays to treat cancer. At high energy, protons can
destroy cancer cells.
●
It can also be combined with x-ray radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy,
and/or immunotherapy.
●
Like x-ray radiation, proton therapy is a
type of external-beam radiation therapy.
Significance:
●
Unlike radiation which uses X-rays, PBT
uses protons to tackle cancer.
●
While radiation can prove toxic to the
whole body, protons can destroy cancer
cells precisely by targeting tumours, thus saving adjoining organs.
Indian
Scenario:
●
In India, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a
grant-in-aid Institution under Department of Atomic Energy, has initiated
collaboration with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research (TIFR) for research in proton therapy.
Issues:
1.
Huge demand:
●
The demand for PBT machines is also
increasing, as more and more patients are being diagnosed with cancer and are
seeking the latest and most effective treatments available.
2.
High cost:
●
One of the major challenges in setting up
PBT machines is the high cost involved, as the machines are complex and require
a significant investment.
3.
Shortage of personnel:
●
In addition, there is a shortage of
trained personnel who can operate and maintain the machines, which further
limits their availability.