Proton radiotherapy: hype, fiction and a few facts
Proton beam therapy (or our preferred title of proton radiotherapy), is a form of radiotherapy delivered with beams of high energy protons rather than the more usual beams of high energy x-rays (or less frequently beams of electrons). It is part of the general field of particle radiotherapy that includes use of particles that are heavier than protons. Beams of carbon ions are the main topic for clinical research around the world, although there is also interest in other particles such as helium ions.