Emory Proton Therapy Center is an integrated part of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Georgia, Winship is at the forefront in the treatment of breast cancers, where innovative research and clinical trials transform how cancer is identified, treated, and survived.
The radiation oncologists at Emory Proton Therapy Center work with the multidisciplinary Emory Breast cancer team at Winship, which includes experts in surgical oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast medical oncology, breast radiology, pathology, medical genetics, supportive oncology, dieticians, social workers, physical therapy, and cancer rehabilitation. Your radiation oncologist will work closely with these and other specialists to customize your breast cancer radiation treatment plan and coordinate your care. We can also partner and coordinate with a patient’s existing care team, whether they are across town or around the world.
Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer
A breast cancer diagnosis can be one of the biggest challenges you and your family will ever face. Our team is dedicated to helping you meet that challenge through supportive care using advanced treatment technology. Proton therapy for breast cancer may be a more precise radiation option for treatment of your cancer to help protect the function of important nearby organs like the heart and lungs, and may reduce the risk of developing a future cancer. Our breast cancer specialists will work with you to develop a personalized breast cancer radiation treatment plan that aims for fewer side effects and improved quality of life.
What We Treat
- Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer
- Invasive ductal carcinoma
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Triple-negative breast cancer
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Recurrent breast cancer
- Angiosarcoma
- Re-irradiation
Why Choose Emory Proton Therapy Center for Breast Cancer Treatment?
Choosing where to receive radiation treatment is an important decision. Here are some factors that set Emory Proton Therapy Center apart.
1. We Are a Part of a Nationally Recognized Comprehensive Cancer Program
Emory Proton Therapy Center is Georgia’s only proton therapy center, combining the most advanced radiation technology with the expertise of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. That designation is awarded to a small number of institutions nationwide that meet the highest standards of cancer research, treatment, and education.
2. Advanced Proton Therapy Technology Including Pencil Beam Scanning
Emory Proton Therapy Center uses pencil beam scanning technology, the most advanced way to deliver proton therapy, allowing radiation oncologists to precisely shape and direct the proton beam to the treatment area while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue, including the heart and lungs.
3. We Work Around Your Life
Daily treatment appointments take approximately 30 minutes. Most patients maintain their normal routines throughout treatment. For patients traveling from outside Atlanta, our team can help you coordinate care every step of the way, including local housing if necessary.
Comparison of Proton and X-ray Therapy
Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is an extremely precise form of radiation treatment that can often better focus the radiation to match the shape and depth of the target. After treating the target, protons stop, avoiding exit dose radiation through the body. By reducing or avoiding radiation to sensitive normal healthy tissues and organs, proton therapy may reduce some of the side effects that can occur as a result of radiation treatments.
X-ray Therapy
X-ray based radiation typically requires more beams or angles to deliver the radiation to the target. Unlike proton therapy where the radiation stops at the target, x-rays continue to deliver radiation as they exit through the body. As a result, x-ray based treatments typically result in increased radiation to normal healthy tissues and organs.
The difference between these two approaches can be significant. A published Phase II clinical trial found that women with breast cancer treated with proton therapy received an extremely low amount of incidental (unintended) radiation to the heart. Because the heart is very sensitive to radiation, these findings support the potential benefit of proton therapy for select breast cancer patients to minimize heart issues that could result from radiation exposure. The table below breaks down how the two radiation approaches compare across the factors that matter most to patients.
| Proton Therapy | X-Ray / Photon Therapy |
Does radiation stop at the tumor/target? | Yes. Protons deposit their energy in the target tissue and then stop. This can reduce or avoid radiation to the heart and lungs, even when nearby lymph nodes need to be treated. | No. X-rays pass through the target and continue traveling through the body, which can expose surrounding healthy tissues, such as the heart and lungs, to unnecessary radiation along the way. |
Heart protection | High protection. The heart typically receives very little incidental radiation. This matters most for left-sided breast cancer, where the heart sits closest to the treatment area, and for patients who have existing heart issues or cardiac risk factors. | May be less than protons. Even with modern X-ray radiation techniques, the heart may receive more unintended radiation, which can raise the risk of heart inflammation or long-term heart complications. |
Lung protection | High protection. The lungs typically receive significantly less radiation, which can lower the risk of lung inflammation and may lower the longer-term risk of developing a secondary lung cancer. | May be less than protons. The lungs often receive more unintended radiation with X-rays, particularly when treatment must include nearby lymph nodes. |
Treatment duration | Varies. Some patients qualify for a shorter 1 to 3 week course though 5 to 6 weeks of daily sessions may be needed. | Similar. Some patients qualify for a shorter 1 to 3 week course though 5 to 6 weeks of daily sessions may be needed. |
Who is best suited for it | Patients needing treatment to the left breast or both breasts, those with lymph node involvement, a history of heart disease, prior radiation to the chest, or a higher sensitivity to radiation. | A widely available option that works well for many patients, although it may not be able to fully eliminate unintended radiation to the heart and lungs. |
Treatment recommendations are based on a medical evaluation and consultation with a qualified radiation oncologist to review your diagnosis, medical history, previous treatments, and discuss your goals of care. Among other things, treatment recommendations depend on the tumor location, lymph node involvement, your anatomy, prior treatments, and overall health. A consultation with one of our breast radiation oncologists can help you evaluate all your treatment options and navigate decisions about what may work best for you.
Proton Therapy Spares Radiation to the Heart
Benefits of Proton Therapy
In treatment of breast cancers, proton therapy can reduce or avoid radiation to surrounding healthy tissue and organs.
Depending on the tumor location and type, proton therapy for breast cancer may achieve the following benefits:
- Reduced risk of inflammation of the heart (pericarditis) and future heart problems like hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), stiffening of the heart muscle (fibrosis, cardiomyopathy), and heart attacks.
- Reduced risk of inflammation of the lungs (radiation pneumonitis), and problems with lung function (lung fibrosis).
- Reduced risk of difficulty or pain with swallowing (dysphagia or odynophagia) or chronic narrowing of the esophagus (stricture).
- Reduced radiation to the bone marrow and circulating lymphocytes, which may help support the function of the immune system in fighting cancer.
- Reduced risk of developing a future second tumor or cancer, which is most relevant in younger patients, those with a good prognosis and a long life expectancy, and those patients who may have genetic conditions putting them at higher risk for developing other cancers.
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What to Expect With Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is typically delivered once daily during weekdays, Monday through Friday. Most patients with breast cancer receive five to six weeks of daily radiation. Some patients may be eligible for shorter treatment courses that span over one to three weeks. Proton therapy is most often integrated with surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, or other cancer treatments as part of a comprehensive plan of care.
Like other types of radiation, proton therapy treatments are invisible and painless. Most breast tumor treatments average 30 minutes each day in the treatment room.
Patients are seen by the radiation oncology physician team weekly during treatment to monitor progress, answer questions, address concerns, and manage any side effects from treatment. Your breast cancer radiation oncologist will discuss a plan to assess response to treatment and for long-term follow-up after therapy.
Patients with Lymph Node-Positive Disease. When treatment must cover the breast or chest wall plus nearby lymph nodes, the radiation field grows larger, bringing it closer to the heart, lungs, and esophagus. Proton therapy’s precision helps protect these organs while still covering the full treatment area.
Patients Undergoing or Planning Breast Reconstruction. Radiation to a reconstructed breast can increase the risk of complications including tissue hardening and implant failure. Proton therapy’s reduced dose to surrounding soft tissue may support better reconstructive outcomes. A study of 116 women with a breast implant reconstruction following mastectomy compared radiation results using protons versus X-ray radiation and found that proton therapy was associated with fewer complications such as infection or skin damage requiring surgery, hardening of tissues around a breast implant, complete loss of breast reconstruction, or need for multiple revision surgeries.
Patients with Elevated Cardiac Risk Factors. Patients with a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes may face added risks when the heart receives radiation. In many patients, proton therapy can minimize radiation to the heart to reduce the risk of heart complications from treatment, particularly when treating the left breast or chest wall.
Patients Requiring Re-Irradiation. Some patients would benefit from more radiation to an area of the chest that has previously been treated with radiation. Proton therapy’s precision can allow physicians to more safely target the treatment area by limiting additional radiation dose to the surrounding tissue.
Contact Emory Proton Therapy Center Today
Proton therapy for breast cancer is not available everywhere. Emory Proton Therapy Center is Georgia’s only proton therapy center, offering pencil beam scanning, the most precise form of proton delivery available today. Our breast radiation oncologists specialize in proton therapy and work directly alongside the rest of the breast oncology team at Winship Cancer Institute, Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and want to understand whether proton therapy is right for you, we are here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer
1. What Makes Someone a Good Candidate for Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer?
Good candidates for proton therapy include patients who especially need to protect the heart, lungs, and nearby healthy tissue from radiation — such as those with left-sided breast cancer, cancer in both breasts, lymph node involvement, a history of heart disease, prior chest radiation, or heightened radiation sensitivity from a genetic condition. A consultation with an Emory Proton Therapy Center radiation oncologist can determine if it’s right for you.
2. Is Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer Safe?
Proton therapy is a well-established radiation treatment with decades of clinical use. The FDA first cleared proton therapy systems for clinical treatment in 1988, and proton therapy is now a standard radiation option for many cancer types. Since opening in 2018, Emory Proton Therapy Center has treated many patients with breast and other types of cancer. As with any radiation treatment, side effects are possible. During your consultation, your radiation oncologist will discuss the likely and potential side effects of your specific treatment plan.
3. How Long Does Proton Therapy Take for Breast Cancer?
Most patients are treated daily, Monday through Friday, and treatment may vary between one to six weeks. Each treatment session takes approximately 30 minutes. As part of your consultation, your radiation oncologist at Emory Proton Therapy Center will discuss the recommended treatment schedule based on your diagnosis and care plan and answer questions.
4. Does Proton Therapy Work as Well as X-Ray Radiation for Breast Cancer?
Proton therapy delivers the same prescribed radiation dose to the treatment area as X-ray therapy, and clinical experience to date supports similar cancer control. The difference is precision. Proton therapy targets the treatment area while reducing unnecessary radiation to the heart, lungs, and surrounding healthy tissue. Your radiation oncologist can discuss which approach fits your diagnosis and anatomy.
Studies on Proton Therapy in Breast Cancer
Our team has identified these studies as examples of the clinical benefits of proton therapy in breast cancer.
Patient Stories
“I evaluated six treatment options before choosing Emory Proton Therapy Center. From the physicians to the front desk to the valet — the professionalism and care has been extraordinary at every single touchpoint. I’ve bragged about this place to everyone I know.”
“I’ve been through it, and I can’t say enough about the amazing care I received. The team who handled my treatments was absolutely wonderful, making a difficult time so much easier to navigate.”
My experience at Emory was incredible—it was as easy as drinking water! The therapy sessions only took about 5 to 10 minutes, and right after, I’d go for a 4-mile walk every single day. I had no side effects whatsoever—I can’t even tell that I had the treatment. Emory truly saved my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Stephen, a 36-year old father from Columbus, Georgia, is one of the almost 2000 patients who have been treated at the Emory Proton Therapy Center since it opened in December 2018. He completed six weeks of proton therapy to treat a brain tumor.
“I went through 37 treatments for prostate cancer at the Emory Proton Center two years ago. The care I received from their team of professionals was amazing. I was willing to travel from South Carolina for treatment, and I’m so thankful I did. I started this fight in 2017 and today my PSA is still undetectable. Truly amazing folks.”
Proton therapy gave Zack his best shot at treating a spinal tumor that had come back. Zack was one of the first patients treated at the Emory Proton Therapy Center after it opened in 2018. The treatments, every weekday for six weeks, took less than one hour of his day and gave Zack the greatest odds of a long life with his wife and children.
Tony was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 and sought care from experts at Emory Proton Therapy Center. He’s confident that the advanced radiation therapy gave him the best cancer treatment possible and says the comfort and care he got from Winship doctors and staff were unmatched. “There were many great solutions here in Atlanta, but the best to me was Emory Proton Therapy Center,” says Tony.
