Each type of cancer, each tumour is unique and differently pronounced. The appropriate therapy must therefore be planned individually. The four pillars of cancer treatment are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. For therapy, usally a combination of different forms of treatment is applied.
With conventional radiation qualities (gamma rays, X-rays, electron beams), the highest dose is delivered about three centimeters below the skin in the body. In contrast, ions penetrate the healthy tissue with a low entrance dose, delivering the highest dose efficacy in the tumour and showing an extremely low dose behind the tumour. The radiation dose is focused specifically on the tumour. This protects the healthy tissue, and reduces side effects. The ion therapy is particularly suited for tumours close to radiation-sensitive organs such as brain and spinal cord, eyes, liver and lungs.
The treatment plan itself is prepared in close collaboration with medical physicists from MedAustron. These are also responsible for further measurements of the applied radiation doses, and for quality assurance.
The treatment with protons or carbon ions takes several weeks and are performed on an out-patient basis. During the treatment, patients usually live at home or in nearby accomodations.
Currently, the MedAustron Centre for Ion Beam Therapy and Research is in its construction phase. By 2013 already, trial operations will start and from 2015 on first treatments will be conducted. When fully operational, approximately 1,400 patients per year can be treated.
