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Radiocast: Particle Beam Radiation Therapy
Debra: This is Healthcare 411: Information for better health. Particle
beam radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells while avoiding damage to
nearby healthy tissues. Since the 1970s, more than 60,000 people worldwide have
received this therapy. But what do we know about its safety and effectiveness?
Dr. Elise Berliner:
Dr. Berliner: Traditional radiation therapy can’t be targeted as
precisely, so it damages healthy tissues near the cancer cells. In theory, this
precision makes particle beam radiation therapy beneficial for treating tumors
that are difficult to remove, or tumors near critical body parts such as the
eyes or brain. While we do know that particle beam radiation therapy focuses
radiation more precisely, scientific studies so far haven’t measured a benefit
in terms of longer life over other radiation alternatives.
Debra: For more information visit
effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov. Healthcare 411 is produced by AHRQ, the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. I’m Debra James for Healthcare 411.
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