Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help.
From the time that our medical team determines you are suitable for proton therapy, your consultation can usually be scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks. If you are happy to go ahead with the treatment after your consultation, we can also usually schedule your treatment planning to begin within 1 to 2 weeks. If you wish to come do the initial consultation and treatment planning righ away, that is also possible.
In order for our medical team to assess a patient for suitability, we require some medical information from you. Your treatment coordinator will inform you of exactly what information we require, which can be different depending on the diagnosis. This will need to be provided as official medical documentation from your treating doctors. Usually, we will also request to see scans, such as an MRI, CT or PET scan. This information can be requested from the hospital or clinic and is often given to the patient on a CD. We can provide you with login details to upload the CD to our secure server. Alternatively, you can post it to us. Any information you already have about your diagnosis and previous treatments is very helpful and it is a good idea to provide us with as much information as possible in your initial enquiry. Your case will then be reviewed by our medical team at the daily indication board meeting. Your treatment coordinator will get back to you with the outcome, or possibly a request for more information if the oncologists require it to make their final decision. You should receive a reply within two business days of our team receiving your complete medical documentation.
It is necessary for our medical team to review your documentation before determining if you are suitable for treatment. We find that most patients prefer to know that they are suitable for treatment before they travel to Prague for their consultation. If you already have all of your medical documentation and scans available, an assessment can be done within two business days, so there is no significant delay for you. A consultation is also more beneficial for you if the doctor is able to discuss your case in more depth, and talk to you about your proposed treatment plan, which would not be possible until a full assessment of your case has been done.
Healthcare professionals have a legal requirement to allow you to access your health records. You can obtain all your medical records including scans in Irish hospitals by requesting them yourself to the Administration Office of the hospital under the FOI Act (Freedom of Information).
We encourage you to wait until we have reviewed your case and determined you are suitable for proton therapy. It would not be beneficial for you, financial or otherwise, to travel to Prague only to find out proton therapy is not the best treatment for you.
From the time of your initial enquiry you will be put in touch with a treatment coordinator to assist you throughout the whole process. You can correspond with them via email and telephone about being assessed for suitability. They are here to answer any of your questions. Our treatment coordinators take care of our international patients undergoing treatment in Prague. You will be greeted at the airport when you arrive, and for the period of your treatment you will be given a mobile phone with a Czech SIM card that can be used to contact us at any time for support. We can help arrange your accommodation, transport to and from the airport, an orientation tour of our facility, and activities you may wish to do while you are in Prague. We are here to provide you with constant support and contact both throughout treatment and after.
There is no need to be concerned about any language barrier, as the doctors and staff that you will encounter at the PTC speak English. Our treatment coordinators are either native English speakers or have a very high level of fluency. The medical documentation written by our doctors will be provided to you in English.
If you would like to speak with one of our former patients, please let us know and we can put you in touch with someone who will be happy to answer any of your questions. Alternatively, you can go to the website of the Proton Ambassadors, a group set up by former patients who aim to bring awareness to proton therapy. They are happy to speak with anyone considering proton therapy. You can contact them directly through their website and someone will get back to you shortly www.protonambassadors.co.uk
The number of fractions (treatment sessions) required ranges from 5 to 38 fractions. They are given every weekday, or every second day in the case of patients having only 5 fractions. This means that treatment times range from 2 to 8 weeks, excluding treatment planning. The actual fraction administration only takes a few minutes, but you can expect to be at the centre for 20 to 40 minutes each day, and you are free to explore Prague for the remainder of your day.
- treatment planning – MRI, CT, PET/CT (as required)
- dosimetry planning
- verification simulation
- preparation of immobilisation devices necessary for precise treatment delivery
- fiducial marker placement (in the case of prostate cancer and if necessary)
- all necessary bloodwork / medical tests
- intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) with pencil-beam scanning
- regular check-ups with an oncologist during treatment (once a week or as required)
- all necessary support services to facilitate treatment
The cost of treatment is based on the number of fractions (treatment sessions) a patient is suitable for. Based on the review of your documentation, we are able to confirm the number of fractions you will likely need and the cost of treatment before you come to Prague for a consultation.
Some of our Irish patients were able to have their treatment partially or completely funded by their health insurance. However, this has to be determined by the health insurance provider and it is usually done on a case-by-case basis.
We also accept the Treatment Abroad Scheme form “EU/EEA form E112 (IE)”, which which may entitle you to HSE-funded treatment. Please click here for more information.
We accept the Treatment Abroad Scheme form “EU/EEA form E112 (IE)”, which which may entitle you to HSE-funded treatment. Please click here for more information.