Cancer patients who receive high-tech proton therapy experience similar cure rates and fewer serious side effects compared with those who undergo traditional X-ray radiation therapy, according to a study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The reduction in side effects — particularly lower hospitalization rates and fewer emergency room visits — could offset the higher initial cost of proton therapy, which often is not covered by private insurance because of its higher upfront expense and limited data on its effectiveness compared to X-ray radiation.
To learn more, see original article at: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/wuso-pta122719.php
