Proton beam hope for asbestos cancer patients

"Mesothelioma is one of the most challenging cancers to treat. Standard radiotherapy is unsafe as it can cause harm to vital organs such as the heart, but the proton beam directs high-dose radiation precisely at the affected area. It was hoped the treatment could increase two-year survival rates from about 30% to 50%."

"The aim of treatment was not just to help people live longer but to live better. If successful, it could fundamentally change how mesothelioma is treated in the UK."

"Some 2,700 people are diagnosed with the aggressive cancer in the UK each year, with the principal cause being the inhalation of asbestos fibres. The North East of England is one of the worst affected areas with high rates of the cancer due to industries like shipbuilding."

Mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused primarily by asbestos inhalation, affects approximately 2,700 people annually in the UK, with the North East experiencing particularly high rates due to its industrial shipbuilding heritage. Currently incurable, the disease presents significant treatment challenges because standard radiotherapy risks damaging vital organs like the heart. A new trial using proton beams offers a safer alternative by directing high-dose radiation precisely at affected areas. Dr Crispin Hiley of University College London Hospitals leads this research, aiming not only to extend survival but to improve quality of life. If successful, the treatment could fundamentally transform mesothelioma management in the UK, potentially doubling two-year survival rates.

Read at www.bbc.com