Treating Spine Tumors with Proton Therapy

Proton Therapy for Spine Tumors

Spine tumors can form on bone, vertebrae or within the spinal cord itself. Like brain tumors, tumors of the spine can require treatment whether malignant or benign and can benefit from precise radiation that conforms to the shape of the tumor and spares nearby healthy tissue.

In treating tumors near the spine, proton therapy uses highly targeted treatment to precisely deliver the radiation dose to the tumor while keeping the dose to nearby critical structures at tolerable levels, limiting unwanted damage. This means that more energy goes into destroying the tumor and less radiation is delivered to surrounding healthy tissue.¹

Northwestern Medicine Proton Center is one of the few proton therapy centers throughout the Midwest and the first one in Illinois. Our team is dedicated to explaining all of your treatment options for spine tumors and facilitating a conversation with you and your physician or oncologist to determine the best course of treatment for you.

To learn if you can benefit from proton therapy, call 1.877.887.5807 or fill out our online form.

In treating tumors near the spine with radiation, it is particularly important to limit the amount of radiation to the surrounding healthy tissue in order to avoid serious, lasting side effects. Proton therapy is able to reduce radiation exposure to critical tissue like the lungs, thereby limiting breathing difficulties and other side effects.

Proton therapy is considered safe, non-invasive and painless. Depending on the patient's diagnosis, treatments for spine tumors are usually given five days a week for five to six weeks.

Patients continue with normal activities before and after treatment. Some patients choose to work; others go on a “radiation vacation” and spend their days doing recreational activities before or after treatment.

• Base-of-skull tumors
• Brain tumors
• Breast cancer
• Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers
• Head and neck tumors