It is indeed sad when you see your near and dear ones suffering from a painful disease, for which, the treatment as well, is as painful as the disease itself — like cancer. While Radiotherapy has treated cancer far more effectively than any other method, it still remains one of the toughest treatments to undergo.
The problem with radiotherapy is that, it puts phenomenal amount of both physical and psychological strain on those who are subjected to it. The fact confirmed by the experts is that during the treatment, nearly majority of the rays are directed towards the non-cancerous tissues of the body. This not only leads to harmful results at times, but also wastes plenty of energy. X-rays are not the most precise knife, when it comes to cutting out the cancerous tumor.
For decades now, particle accelerators have been used in places like CERN to study the properties of sub-nuclear particles. Now, these proton accelerators are being used in some of the leading and select hospitals across the U.S. to fight cancer. According to experts, cancer tumors are far more effectively removed by a streaming beam of protons. Particle physics does allude to the fact that the energy is far more concentrated and less likely dissipated along a beam of protons than in case of X-rays. In a more common sense, a beam of protons is a better, more accurate and sharper knife to remove a cancerous tumor than an X-ray beam.
But, the problem is, a 222-ton accelerator, which is a building of the size of a football field with walls up to 18-feet thick to house it, can cost more than $100 million. Now, that makes it immensely expensive! And as of now, it is out of reach for many a developing nation.
It also obviously means that the cost of treatment will shoot up. Some doctors fear that this will lead to further commercialization of hospitals as even the cases of far less intensity would be asked to undergo this treatment, so as to pay the bills for owning this hugely expensive medical device.
Loma Linda built the nation’s first hospital-based proton center in 1990 and has treated about 13,000 patients. They are spreading across the country fast.
One hopes that doctors would not fall to the extent of making it a commercial venture and stick to the oath they take up before joining their service. Medicine indeed is a noble profession and one hopes, they use this wonderful new tool discretely to help cure those in need of it.
