INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES FOR ONCOLOGICAL TREATMENTS: PROTON THERAPY AT THE INTERSECTION OF PHYSICS AND MEDICINE

Abstract

The inspiration for writing this editorial came from a recent visit to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN, Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) in Geneva. There I had the opportunity to take a closer look at the technology of proton production and acceleration in cyclotrons. I was impressed by this direct insight into physical findings that have an impact on many other scientific fields. I learned how these scientific discoveries are used in medicine, especially in oncology, and how this interdisciplinary approach can improve patients' lives. This experience gave me a new perspective and encouraged me to research and write about this important and innovative field. In the following, we will explore how proton therapy has changed the way and success of treatments in oncology and how the interdisciplinary collaboration between physics and medicine has contributed to this progress. In addition, I have focused on the relevance of this technology to veterinary medicine and the potential it offers for improving cancer treatment in our pets. Interdisciplinarni pristopi k onkološkim zdravljenjem: Protonska terapija na presečišču fizike in medicine Navdih za pisanje tega uredniškega članka je nastal z nedavnim obiskom Evropske organizacije za jedrske raziskave (CERN, Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) v Ženevi. Tam sem imela priložnost pobliže spoznati tehnologijo pridobivanja protonov in njihovega pospeševanja v ciklotronih. Ta neposreden vpogled v fizikalno znanje, ki seva v mnoga druga znanstvena področja, me je navdušil. Spoznala sem, kako se ta znanstvena odkritja uporabljajo v medicini, zlasti v onkologiji, in kako lahko ta interdisciplinarni pristop izboljša življenja bolnikov. Ta izkušnja mi je dala novo perspektivo in me spodbudila k raziskovanju in pisanju o tem pomembnem in inovativnem področju. V nadaljevanju bomo raziskali, kako je protonska terapija preoblikovala način in uspešnost zdravljenj v onkologiji in kako je interdisciplinarno sodelovanje med fiziko in medicino prispevalo k temu napredku. Pri tem sem se osredotočila o pomenu te tehnologije za veterinarsko medicino in kakšen potencial predstavlja pri izboljšanju zdravljenja raka pri naših ljubljenčkih.