How much does proton beam therapy cost in the UK?

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“Until now, patients have to be sent to private clinics in the US or Switzerland to get this treatment at a cost of around £114,000. “By making the treatment available in the UK, the cost is significantly reduced but so is the effect long-distance travelling can have on patients and their families.”

Is proton therapy available on NHS?

Proton beam therapy has been offered overseas to NHS patients who are eligible for treatment in England since 2008 in a programme that has to date supported approximately 1,000 patients.

What is the success rate of proton beam therapy?

After 3 years, 46% of patients in the proton therapy group and 49% of those in the traditional radiation therapy group were cancer free. Fifty-six percent of people who received proton therapy and 58% of those who received traditional radiation were still alive after 3 years.

Is proton beam therapy available in UK?

Proton beam therapy (PBT) has been available to UK patients since 2008 through the NHS-funded overseas programme, and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has treated patients with rare eye cancers with low-energy protons for many years.

What are the disadvantages of proton beam therapy?

In general, common side effects of proton therapy include: Fatigue. Hair loss around the part of your body being treated. Skin redness around the part of your body being treated.

Where is proton therapy available in UK?

Two NHS centres will provide high energy proton beam therapy in the UK, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (Manchester) and University College London Hospital (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust. The Christie NHS proton beam therapy centre opened in Autumn 2018, and the first patient was treated in December 2018.

Is proton beam therapy better than radiotherapy?

It directs proton beams at cancer cells with precision. Proton therapy appears to be safer and more effective than conventional radiation therapy, because it can deliver a high dose to a very specific area, with minimal impact on surrounding tissues.

Is proton therapy better than chemotherapy?

For patients with advanced, inoperable stage 3 lung cancer, concurrent chemotherapy and the specialized radiation treatment, proton therapy, offers improved survival compared to historical data for standard of care, according to a new study from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Where can I get proton beam therapy in the UK?

What is proton beam therapy at the Christie?

The Christie is home to the first high energy NHS proton beam therapy (PBT) centre in the UK. See updates from the proton beam therapy centre at The Christie. This video gives you an interactive tour of the proton beam therapy centre at The Christie.

How long does proton beam therapy treatment take?

Treatment is typically over five days for 6 weeks with each daily treatment taking up to an hour. Each proton beam therapy centre will provide more detailed information about what to expect during treatment. Accommodation and travel will be provided for patients referred to a commissioned overseas proton beam therapy centre.

How many carers are needed for proton beam therapy overseas?

Accommodation and travel will be provided for patients referred to a commissioned overseas proton beam therapy centre. For paediatric and Teenage & Young Adult patients (up to 24 years old) this will be for the patient and a maximum of two carers, for Adult patients aged 25 and over this will be for the patient and one carer.