Proton Therapy for Cancer Lowers Risk of Side Effects (IMAGE)
Caption
A new study led by Brian Baumann, M.D., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, found that proton therapy (bottom) is associated with fewer severe side effects than conventional X-ray radiation therapy (top) for many cancer patients. Protons are relatively heavy, positively charged particles that hit their target -- a lung tumor in this example -- and stop. X-ray beams consist of photons, much smaller particles that can travel all the way through the body and its healthy tissue -- including the heart in this example -- on the way out.
Credit
Brian Baumann/Mike Worful
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