Treating Recurrent or Radiation-Induced Tumors With Proton Therapy

You may need proton therapy for a:

• Recurrent tumor: A tumor that returned at or is near the same area of the original tumor site that received radiation before.
• Radiation-induced tumor: A new tumor near or at an area that received radiation before.

Examples of recurrent or radiation-induced tumors:

• Brain and spine cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Lung cancer
• Sarcoma cancer

Proton therapy’s precision is key. It can help prevent complications caused by too much radiation to already-treated areas.

Proton therapy targets tumors with a large dose of radiation while minimizing exposure of nearby tissue that’s healthy or has already gotten radiation treatment.

When it comes to cancer, expertise makes a difference. As one of only a few proton therapy centers in the Midwest and the first in Illinois, Northwestern Medicine Proton Center has experience to draw from for your care. Since 2010, our team often sees patients with recurrent and radiation-induced tumors.

To ensure a smooth treatment journey for you, we’ll coordinate with your referring physician and cancer care team. Our team is dedicated to explaining all your options. We’ll also work with you and your physician or oncologist to determine the best course of treatment for you.

Proton therapy is considered safe, noninvasive and painless. We usually treat each patient five days a week for multiple weeks. However, your care plan will depend on your diagnosis.

Giving us details about your earlier treatments helps us plan your care and understand your needs.

Have these ready to share when you contact us:

• Where you were treated previously
• When you received previous treatment
• We will need you to obtain your radiation records and images from your oncologist