What does proton beam therapy involve?

Proton beam therapy uses pencil-beam scanning to deliver precise radiation doses directly to tumors, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. At SPHIC (Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center), this advanced technique targets cancers with high accuracy, reducing toxicity to organs like the rectum and bladder compared to conventional IMRT. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, typically over 5 to 7 weeks, with each session lasting about 15 to 30 minutes.