Proton Therapy: When Is Expensive Cancer Treatment...
Lung Cancer
Proton Therapy: When Is Expensive Cancer Treatment Really Worth it?
When a doctor recommends a treatment for your cancer, it’s a very good idea to get another opinion, and also ask about the actual data to support the recommendation. Is the treatment course more expensive than other options? Why does the physician, or institution, believe this is the way to go?
Despite the heavy marketing of proton therapy, x-ray or traditional photon radiation “are pretty darn good” for small, early stage lung cancers, says Dr. Keith Cengel, a radiation oncologist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Proton has its advantages, but Dr. Cengel says there are several things to consider. Firstly, proton therapy might not be easily accessible for many people.
While standard radiation therapy equipment can be added to a hospital’s existing facilities, proton therapy requires the construction of a specialized facility and the installation of expensive equipment that will produce the proton beam. By expensive, we mean a couple hundred million dollars. The cost is, in part, why there are only 28 proton therapy facilities in the United States at the moment, with 10 more under construction. The therapy is also very expensive and insurance coverage varies widely.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
When a doctor recommends a treatment for your cancer, it’s a very good idea to get another opinion, and also ask about the actual data to support the recommendation. Is the treatment course more expensive than other options? Why does the physician, or institution, believe this is the way to go?
Despite the heavy marketing of proton therapy, x-ray or traditional photon radiation “are pretty darn good” for small, early stage lung cancers, says Dr. Keith Cengel, a radiation oncologist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Proton has its advantages, but Dr. Cengel says there are several things to consider. Firstly, proton therapy might not be easily accessible for many people.
While standard radiation therapy equipment can be added to a hospital’s existing facilities, proton therapy requires the construction of a specialized facility and the installation of expensive equipment that will produce the proton beam. By expensive, we mean a couple hundred million dollars. The cost is, in part, why there are only 28 proton therapy facilities in the United States at the moment, with 10 more under construction. The therapy is also very expensive and insurance coverage varies widely.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Treatment: Early Stages
Treatment: Stage Three
There are several types of lung cancer surgery, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread.
Treatment: Surgery
There are several types of lung cancer surgery, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread.