Cancer therapy aims to cure the patient by removing or killing all cancer cells present in the body. However, it is very difficult to achieve cure without causing side effects. In radiotherapy, the patient is normally treated with high-energy X-rays, which may cause some damage to healthy tissues. Therefore, radiotherapy may lead to side effects, which may be mild for some and serious for others. For cancer patients, the last radiation dosage in conjunction with the treatment is often not the end of the journey. After treatment, side effects may slowly progress before they become severe. Thus, in the planning of the treatment for a given patient, it is very important to also consider preventing or reducing side effects.
Norway will get a proton therapy facility in 2024 at the Norwegian Radium Hospital in Oslo. With protons, it is possible to irradiate the tumor with less irradiation of the normal tissue, hopefully reducing side effects.
The aim of our research environment PROCCA is to register and compare side effects in head and neck cancer patients treated with X-rays or protons and to investigate potential ways of reducing side effects and thereby increasing the quality of life.
The event will be in Norwegian.