Proton Therapy

Proton therapy is a type of radiotherapy that targets tumours with high-energy, positively-charged particles (protons). It is a more precise alternative to X-ray (photon) radiation therapy, which is more commonly used to treat cancers.

The precise nature of proton therapy, with the ability to target cancer cells at a specific depth inside the patient, means there is less radiation delivered to healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. This can result in fewer side-effects for the person being treated. It also makes proton therapy a safer treatment option for children and adolescents since their rapidly growing and developing cells are more susceptible to damage from the radiation.

SAHMRI is a partner involved in the development of Australia’s first proton therapy unit – The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research – which will house the nation’s first proton synchrotron and first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.