A proton therapy centre costs $150‑$200 million to build. But for certain cancers — paediatric brain tumours, skull base tumours, eye melanomas — it's worth every penny. The radiation oncology market research shows that particle therapy is the fastest‑growing technology, with a CAGR above 10%. Why? Because protons stop at the tumour, unlike X‑rays which exit the body and damage healthy tissue.
What's the downside? Cost. A single proton treatment can be $50,000‑$100,000, vs. $10,000‑$20,000 for conventional radiation. The radiation oncology market trends highlight that the fastest‑growing end‑user segment is outpatient clinics, which are opening proton centres to compete with hospitals.
New developments: compact proton systems that fit in a hospital basement, reducing cost. Also, FLASH proton therapy that delivers the dose in microseconds, further reducing side effects.
The takeaway: proton therapy is not for everyone, but for complex cases where sparing healthy tissue is critical, it's a game‑changer. If you're a candidate, advocate for yourself.
