Worldwide cancer cases are projected to increase by 50 percent by 2030 even as the overall cancer death rate declines. As the number of cancer survivors grows, the quality of life for survivors has become of paramount importance to the medical community. Because of this concern, proton therapy adoption is increasing as its efficacy has been proven to treat of many types of cancers. Proton therapy reduces many of the side effects of cancer radiotherapy treatment and also minimizes the long-term health risks associated with traditional medicines.
The Alliance for Proton Therapy Access, with support from Hitachi and other industry partners, recently launched a campaign to support physicians and patients seeking proton therapies for cancer treatment. The purpose of the Alliance is to improve insurance access for patients who are in need of proton therapy treatment.
To help ensure cancer patients seeking proton therapy receive fair and timely payment decisions from their health insurers, the Alliance for Proton Therapy Access launched an advocacy campaign, Tell Insurers: Fight Cancer, Not Me. Many patients face uneven, disparate insurance policies when they deserve access to the best available treatment recommended by their physicians.
The Alliance consists of concerned patients, physicians, clinicians, family caregivers and other stakeholders who are advocating for increased insurance coverage for proton therapy because it is one of the most precise forms of cancer treatment available today. The Alliance is encouraging all stakeholders to participate in the Alliance's national advocacy campaign and amplify the voices of patients and physicians speaking out on behalf of the Alliance's mission.
Proton technologies were developed by Hitachi's advanced R&D teams, who have earned a reputation for turning challenging collaboration projects and concepts into solutions that serve to advance social innovation. Those collaboration projects include leading research and care institutions around the world, such as the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. For example, MD Anderson and Hitachi are collaborating on research for a unique randomized clinical trial comparing the outcomes and side effects of Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) versus Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer of the head and neck.
One benefit of proton therapy for cancer survivors is the reduction of the long-term toxicity risks of conventional radiotherapy. Because more than half of all cancer patients receive one or more courses of radiation therapy as part of their treatment, mitigating those risks is a top concern. Not all radiation therapies are alike, and after careful evaluation, physicians will prescribe proton therapy for several types of cancers in specific clinical cases.
Hitachi’s proton therapy cancer treatment solutions are less invasive, have lower radiation exposure and require fewer hospital visits, prioritizing patients' quality of life first. Hitachi also offers various radiation therapy treatment methods such as proton, heavy-ion and hybrid therapy systems that can irradiate multiple ion species, allowing medical facilities to select the best treatment for different types of cancer.
Many leading physicians have noted the proven efficacy of proton therapy in many types of tumors, including brain, breast, esophageal, eye, gastrointestinal, gynecological, head and neck, liver, lung, lymphoma, prostate, soft tissue, spine, and many pediatric cancers.
However, physicians and patients have faced challenges accessing proton therapy treatment in a complex insurance market.
While the Alliance for Proton Therapy Access advocates for uniformity of access to critical, time-sensitive treatment, it also offers a forum for members of the cancer care community to raise awareness about proton therapy. This forum fosters education about proton therapy’s essential value and supports physicians and patients in accessing treatment when recommended.
Hitachi Social Innovation Business supports partnership initiatives in healthcare, such as the Alliance for Proton Therapy Access, that have a positive social impact. As a key player in the fight against climate change, Hitachi is committed to providing sustainable healthcare technologies. The particle therapy system is developed with low radiation immittance and low energy efficiency to perform social activities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals .
Hitachi aims to play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer while driving social innovation in healthcare through digital technology solutions for cancer care. By leveraging treatment prognosis information, we aim to promote the development of digital solutions that support the selection of cancer treatment methods appropriate for individual patients in order to improve patients' quality of life. As cancer has become one of the leading causes of death in developed countries, Hitachi believes that by leveraging digital innovations in conjunction with advances in the science of cancer treatment, we can provide data-driven healthcare solutions for optimal prevention and care.
Learn more about Hitachi Proton Therapy.
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Search
U.S.A.
