Highly Precise Cancer Treatment for Brain and Spine Tumors, with Fewer Side Effects
Proton radiation therapy is an advanced and extremely precise form of radiation therapy that targets and destroys tumor cells while reducing the risk of harmful side effects. It may be right for you if you are newly diagnosed with a brain, spine, or other central nervous system tumor, or if you have been found to have a recurrence after prior surgery or radiation therapy.
Proton therapy for brain tumors
Brain tumors are surrounded by delicate and vitally important normal tissue. Treating these tumors with conventional radiation therapy poses risks of neurological deficits, hormonal deficiencies, and intellectual impairment.
Because proton therapy is so precise, brain tumors can be carefully targeted with higher doses of radiation, with less risk of long-term injury to surrounding tissue. There are also fewer immediate side effects to the brain, helping patients maintain a better quality of life as well as better cognitive function during treatment.
Brain and spine tumors that can be treated with proton therapy include:
Glioblastoma multiforme and high-grade gliomas Low-grade gliomas Astrocytoma Meningiomas Pituitary and pineal tumors Craniopharyngiomas Acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) Ependymomas Germ cell tumors Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors Chordomas Base-of-skull tumors (benign and cancerous) Brain or spine tumors recurring after prior treatment Ocular tumors
Proton therapy is our focus
The New York Proton Center has a singular focus: to provide adults and children with cancer the most sophisticated and advanced form of radiation therapy. While we do not provide surgery or chemotherapy, many of our patients receive these important treatments from other healthcare providers in coordination with proton therapy.
Not all proton therapy is created equal
Patients at the New York Proton Center receive pencil-beam scanning, a highly sophisticated and modern form of proton therapy. As the name implies, pencil-beam scanning uses an extremely narrow beam of protons to “paint” the intended radiation dose onto the tumor. Our pencil-beam scanning technology can target different parts of the tumor with different radiation dose levels, while better protecting the surrounding normal tissue from irradiation. That’s especially valuable when treating the most complex tumors, including those in the brain and spine.
Partners in care
The New York Proton Center partners with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, and Mount Sinai Health System. We work closely with your multidisciplinary oncology team to develop a tailored treatment plan. We also offer a variety of clinical trial opportunities.
Insurance coverage
The New York Proton Center accepts both Medicare and Medicaid, and is in-network with nearly all commercial insurance plans. We will work with you to complete all the paperwork, explain to your insurance company the reasoning behind your treatment plan and assist you throughout the process.
Request a Consultation
If you have been diagnosed with a brain or spine cancer, proton therapy may be an excellent treatment option for you. To request a consultation, please complete the form below or call. In-person and telemedicine options are available.
Our Nurse Navigator will require medical records before your information can be presented to one of our physicians.
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