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Proton beam: Possible to ease grip on cancers it can be used for, without pushing up healthcare costs for all
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The Proton Therapy Centre at Mount Elizabeth Novena.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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SINGAPORE – Proton beam therapy (PBT) is touted as a precision radiation tool to kill cancer cells, causing less damage to surrounding healthy cells than conventional radiation.
Dr Michael Wang, who chairs the division of radiation oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), said PBT reduces radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues and organs, and “potentially” reduces the risk of developing secondary cancers due to radiation. So it can be used more aggressively to kill off more cancer cells.
