Proton therapy is often discussed in Australia as a treatment for childhood cancer, and rightly so. But it is important to be clear: proton therapy is not only for children.
International research now shows that proton therapy can benefit adults with cancers such as head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and esophageal cancer. The advantage lies in its physical precision, which allows oncologists to deliver high radiation doses to the tumour while reducing radiation to healthy organs. This can lead to fewer severe side effects and better quality of life long after treatment.¹
Head and neck cancers
In adults with head and neck cancers (including throat cancers), open-access clinical evidence confirms that proton therapy delivers radiation to the tumour with less exposure to nearby critical structures compared with conventional radiotherapy. This has been associated with lower toxicity and improved early functional outcomes for patients treated with protons.¹
Breast cancer
For many women with breast cancer, particularly left-sided tumours where the heart is at risk, proton therapy’s precision can substantially reduce radiation dose to the heart and lungs. An open-access consensus from international experts highlights proton therapy as an option in breast cancer to achieve this organ-sparing effect, which is strongly linked to reduced risk of long-term cardiac and pulmonary toxicity.²
Esophageal cancer
Radiation therapy for esophageal cancer carries risk of damage to the heart and lungs. An open-access international analysis found that proton therapy was associated with reduced cardiopulmonary toxicity compared with conventional photon radiotherapy, while achieving similar cancer control outcomes.³
Why this matters for Australia
This evidence shows that proton therapy is a mature, evidence-based treatment that benefits both adults and children. It reduces long-term harm, improves survivorship quality, and gives clinicians more tools to tailor treatment to the individual patient.
Australians should not have to travel overseas, accept higher toxicity, or be denied access to a treatment already improving outcomes in other countries.
A call to leadership
Australia already has the expertise.
Australia already has the evidence.
Australia already has infrastructure in place.
WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE IS A DECISION.
This petition calls on Anthony Albanese, Mark Butler, Peter Malinauskas, and Chris Picton to move from discussion to action.
Every year of delay means more Australians, children and adults alike, are exposed to avoidable harm or denied access altogether.
The evidence is clear. The need is real. It is time to make the decision and deliver proton therapy in Australia.
References:
- Bała, K., Świtaj, T., and Kaźmierska, J. (2024).
Proton Therapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers.
Journal, Cancers, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11579081/ - Mutter, R.W., Choi, J.I., Jimenez, R.B. et al. (2021).
Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Consensus Statement from the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group (PTCOG) Breast Cancer Subcommitte,
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8416711/ - Liu, C., Bhangoo, R.S., and Sio, T.T. et al. (2023).
Efficacy and Safety of Proton Radiotherapy Versus Photon Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, JAMA Network Open, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808359