Proton Therapy for Cancer: Addressing a Big Problem with a Small Machine

Published: Sept. 26, 2011, 8 p.m.

b'George Caporaso, LLNL scientist, explores the role radiation plays in the treatment of cancer, and in particular, how the use of energetic proton beams could improve cancer treatment. Unfortunately, this type of treatment has limited availability due to the large size and cost of current proton therapy systems. A new type of particle accelerator that holds promise of greatly miniaturizing proton treatment systems and making this treatment more widely available will be described. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 22011]'