Basic aspects of proton beam therapy

The monthly meeting of the Georgian Health Physics Association (GHPA) took place on September 29, 2023. At the commencement of this gathering, GHPA members were addressed by Victoria Brown, Chair of the HPS Society Support Committee. During her speech, Victoria shed light on the pivotal shift from the HPS board of directors' prior responsibility for chapter relations to the new oversight provided by members of the HPS Society Support Committee. She also spoke about the Joint IRPA-HPS nmeeting that will take place in Summer 2024. Her introductory remarks were followed by a technical presentation delivered by Beka Bochorishvili, a renowned Medical Physicist from Todua Clinic (Tbilisi, Georgia).

Participants of the GHPA Technical Meeting on September 29, 2023

Beka Bochorishvili's presentation, titled 'Basic Aspects of Proton Beam Therapy,' delved into the ever-evolving field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death globally, presenting an ongoing health challenge. However, advancements in technology and treatment protocols have transformed the field of oncology. Find additional details about Mr. Bochorishvili's presentation in the provided abstract below.

This talk was an invaluable addition to our monthly meetings, illustrating the GHPA's commitment to advancing knowledge in health physics and staying at the forefront of cutting-edge developments in cancer treatment.

Meeting Information

Beka Bochorishvili, Medical physicist, PhD

Radiation Oncology Department, Todua Clinic

Scientific technical consultant, Kutaisi International University

Researcher, Institute of Condensed Mater Physics and Perspective Materials, Tbilisi State University

When: Friday, September 29, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Where: Online meeting

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world today and is a global health challenge. Cancer diagnosis and treatment have come a long way in recent years, with new technologies and treatments constantly being developed. Radiation therapy is a crucial component of cancer treatment and has been used for decades. Modern advances in photon radiotherapy technology, such as image-guided radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy have made treatment more effective. 

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses proton particles to target cancer cells with higher accuracy and fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy with photons. Proton beam therapy is often used to treat cancers located near sensitive organs or tissues, such as brain tumors, spinal cord tumors etc. 

The presentation discusses some physical, technical and biological basic aspects of proton beam radiotherapy and makes a comparison of proton and photon radiotherapy. The main advantages of proton therapy over photon therapy are underlined, namely: the better possibility of dose escalation, which increases the probability of curing cancer; reduction of the dose to healthy tissues, which improves patients' life quality; reduction of the low dose region, which decreases the probability of secondary malignancies.

Cite

Bochorishvili B. Basic aspects of proton beam therapy. GHPA Technical Meeting, Tbilisi, Georgia, 29 Sep. 2023. Available at: https://www.radiacia.org/2023/09/basic-aspects-of-proton-beam-therapy.html