Proton Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Overview

Epithelial tumors arise from the surface of the ovary and account for about 85 to 90 percent of all ovarian cancers. Nationally, ovarian cancer in 2021 is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the fifth-leading cause of cancer death in women. Ovarian cancer is a serious disease, but if caught in its early stages before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is 93 percent, but only 16 percent of diagnoses are made at this localized stage.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

• High-energy, precisely-targeted proton beams can deliver high doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells, reducing recurrence rates for many cancer cases.
• Proton therapy is non-invasive and may reduce side effects.
• Patients treated with proton therapy may have increased tolerance for chemotherapy.
• Patients can maintain their current quality of life during and after treatment.
• It is sometimes used effectively to treat areas that have already been treated with radiation.

Sources: American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, and Texas Cancer Registry