Proton Therapy Essen - Prof. Timmermann WPE Essen

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Prof. Dr. med. Beate Timmermann is Director of the Clinic for Particle Therapy and Medical Director of the West German Proton Therapy Center (WPE). She is one of the world's leading specialists in the field of radiation therapy and radiooncology, especially in the field of proton therapy.

One of the Most Modern Proton Therapy Centers Worldwide

The West German Proton Therapy Center (WPE) is one of the leading facilities for radiation therapy with protons in Germany and the most modern proton therapy center worldwide. The WPE is characterized by a large team of excellent medical specialists, highly specialized medical physicists, experienced medical-technical radiology assistants (MTRA), and many other professionals. As a subsidiary of the University Hospital Essen and part of the largest oncological focus center, the West German Tumor Centre, it guarantees patients treatment at the highest medical level.

Proton Therapy Reduces Radiation Exposure

The irradiation of malignant tumors is a general procedure in modern medicine. In most cases, X-rays or photon beams are used to damage the tumor cells. Proton therapy is a modern and precise form of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer, which is considered particularly gentle and effective due to its physical properties. The proton beam penetrates the healthy tissue up to the tumor and discharges its highest energy, not before it gets there. The radiation exposure of the healthy tissue is, therefore, many times lower with proton therapy than with other methods. Proton therapy can also be used to treat tumors in sensitive areas of the body that are difficult or impossible to operate on.

Treatment Focus on Brain Tumors & Sarcomas

The most significant clinical experience is in the treatment of chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the base of the skull as well as the axillary skeleton, tumors of the ocular fundus and, increasingly, solid tumors in childhood. Currently, the WPE is particularly treating non-displaced on inspiration tumors in the head, spine, and pelvis area (i.e., mainly primary brain tumors as well as sarcomas of the skull base, facial skull, spine, and pelvis). Prostate carcinomas and nasopharyngeal carcinomas are also considered.

Proton Radiation in Children

The treatment of children is a particular focus of the WPE. Also, the irradiation of younger children (under five years) is possible in the WPE. Unfortunately, children are particularly sensitive to the occurrence of radiation-related side effects due to the still developing tissue. But due to the well controllable impact of radiation therapy with protons, healthy tissue is primarily spared so that with protons, there is the potential to reduce the risk of negative therapy consequences and secondary tumors—Prof. Dr. med. Beate Timmermann has been working on the establishment of proton therapy for children since 2002.

Proton Therapy for the Treatment of Eye Tumors

Especially for treating patients with eye tumors, the Center for Proton Therapy, in cooperation with the Eye Clinic at the University Hospital Essen, offers the Eyeline Chair. Since proton therapy is very complex, it is only available for choroidal melanomas in a few places worldwide. However, with the possibility of using proton therapy for malignant eye tumors in both adults and children, the University Hospital Essen is home to one of the world's largest centers for eye tumors. Thus, outstanding oncological therapy is offered to all national and international patients of the Department of Ophthalmology.

Please, click here to visit the website of the WPE.