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How do I contact the Francis
H. Burr Proton Therapy Center to have my case evaluated
for proton therapy?
We encourage potential patients to seek referrals
through their primary care provider (PCP) or local radiation
oncology specialists. If these individuals are not familiar
with proton therapy an inquiry line 617-724-1680 and e-mail
address InformationRadOnc@partners.org can be used to directly
seek specific contact information.
Why are there so few proton therapy
centers if the treatment is so good?
As of summer 2005 there are 23 clinical proton radiotherapy
facilities worldwide. Nine new facilities are proposed over
the next four years. The upfront cost, around $100M, as well
as the operational costs are the primary reason why there
are so few proton facilities. In the US reimbursement rates
from insurance providers is only slightly higher than conventional
radiation therapy making it difficult for centers to recover
their investment.
Do I need
special approval from my insurance provider to receive proton
therapy?
Pre-approval from your insurance provider is required
since not all insurance providers cover proton radiation therapy.
Many insurance providers will only covers proton therapy for
specific diagnosis therefore it’s important that it
covers the specific diagnosis being considered.
What are some of the side effects
from proton therapy?
Side effects will depend on the patient’s age,
medical history, diagnosis, disease size and location. Some
patients may receive chemotherapy in conjunction with proton
therapy; some will receive much lower radiation doses than
others and therefore symptoms will vary significantly. Common
symptoms include temporary hair loss and skin reactions in
the direct path of the radiation. Fatigue is also associated
treatment to large areas.
Once accepted for proton therapy
how do I find lodging and how do I coordinate transportation
if I am from out of town or country?
The Center provides resources to help patients and
family find lodging. Some lodging is within walking distance
to the Center while others require transportation. Subsidized
housing may also be available. Some of the lodging options
also provide transportation for hospital appointments.
How do I coordinate my proton
treatment appointments?
The first few treatments are generally assigned based
on available openings. At the time of the first few treatments
you should let inform the radiation therapists of any treatment
time preferences. However, you should be aware that scheduling
is often limited by technical factors such as the need to
use specific configurations of the treatment machine. Also,
appointments are scheduled for many other patients with their
own desires for treatment appointment times. An example of
limited scheduling on one of the gantry rooms is the need
to treat pediatric patients under anesthesia. A block is reserved
in the morning where anesthesiologists and their equipment
are available and it would be unfeasible to intersperse these
treatments with others.
How are treatments scheduled?
As is the nature of this advanced
and highly sought-after treatment, we have a variety of
patients who present with extremely challenging and time-sensitive
illnesses. We prioritize patients based upon medical
urgency and available resources. Our
current treatment day operates from approximately 7:30
AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, except for hospital
holidays. Your
appointment will be scheduled during those hours. You
will be notified of your first treatment appointment time
on the Friday before your start date. We request
you remain flexible with your availability for treatment.
To read more >>>
Why does it take longer to
treat me with the proton therapy compared to conventional
radiation therapy?
In order to ensure a minimal amount of radiation
to normal structures we conform the proton beam very tightly
to the target. Diagnostic quality pre-treatment x-ray and
ultrasound imaging allows us to keep the margins very tight.
This level of imaging is generally not done for conventional
therapy. The actual treatment time, when the radiation is
turned on, is similar for proton therapy and conventional
x-ray therapy.
Why do some patients receive both
conventional x-ray therapy as well as proton therapy?
The Center provides a limited resource. Managing the potential
benefits from proton therapy is done on an individual case
basis. In some circumstances it is advantageous to combine
these therapies just like it is sometime advantageous to
combine radiation therapy with surgery and/or chemotherapy.
The goal is to provide the optimal access to
patients who would benefit from proton radiation therapy.
With experience using both high-quality x-ray and proton
therapy, our physicians are well equipped to determine the
appropriate combination, which is optimal for patient’s
individual treatments.
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