How to Treat Pediatric Cancers With Proton Therapy
When children are diagnosed with cancer, the treatment plan is even more intricate than for adults. With their small stature and growing bodies, consideration is made for the long-term effects of chemotherapy and radiation on diseased and healthy tissues.
Proton therapy, a form of radiation therapy, serves as a preferred alternative to treat pediatric cancers. Protons stop at the site of the tumor, limiting unnecessary radiation to other organs located in close proximity to the tumor. This can be especially helpful for children, whose organs and tissues are smaller and more susceptible to exposure of photon radiation overflow. In addition, children have full lives ahead of them, and sparing nearby healthy tissues of radiation exposure minimizes the long-term effects on key organs like the heart, lungs, stomach and brain.
The Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC) Uses Proton Therapy to Treat a Variety of Pediatric Cancers:
- Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs)
- Craniopharyngioma
- Ependymoma
- Ewing’s sarcoma
- Germ cell tumors
- Low- and high-grade gliomas, including juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas and optic pathway gliomas
- Lymphomas, including Hodgkin’s disease
- Medulloblastomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs)
- Neuroblastoma
- Optic pathway glioma
- Pituitary adenoma
- Recurrent tumors, including recurrent benign tumors
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
Meet a Pediatric Patient
Get to know pediatric patient Teddy Wind by clicking on the video below:
Why choose MPTC?
Our dedicated pediatric team from the University of Maryland Department of Radiation Oncology is fully integrated with the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH). UMCH is recognized statewide and regionally as a center of excellence for children with critical illnesses and complex, chronic conditions.
Understanding the Proton Therapy Treatment Process
At the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, every pediatric cancer treatment plan is customized to your unique diagnosis and health needs. We aim to deliver highly targeted care while supporting your comfort and well-being.
Here’s what you can expect:
Initial Consultation: During your initial consultation, you will meet with our expert team, including a radiation oncologist, to review your medical history and determine if proton therapy is right for you. Our radiation oncologists are trained to deliver radiation in a variety of modalities, which means they can discuss all radiation options to ensure you are comfortable with your care plan. If proton therapy is right for you, our billing department will help find out if your insurance covers proton therapy.
CT Simulation and Treatment Planning: We use advanced imaging to map your tumor and design a precise, personalized plan. These scans help us prepare your body position to ensure accurate proton therapy treatment.
Daily Treatment: Proton therapy begins within two weeks of the simulation. These outpatient sessions are typically 30 minutes, five days a week, with most patients returning to daily activities right after. The length of treatment depends on your specific treatment plan but generally lasts three to eight weeks.
Completion: Upon completing your last treatment, you will ring the bell at the “Ring in Hope” wall, a symbol that closes the door on this chapter of life and opens the door to a healthy future.
Follow-Up and Ongoing Monitoring: Within a month of your final treatment, you will come back for a follow-up visit to track your progress. Following that, imaging and regular check-ins help us further track your progress and make any needed adjustments.
