Frequently asked
questions about
proton therapy
Patient FAQs
You ask, we answer.
Once you’ve decided on proton therapy, many questions often arise: What do I have to do? What happens next? What documents do I need? We’ve listed the most common questions below – plus the answers to get you up to speed as quickly as possible.
For all other questions, our Case Management team will be happy to help.
Case management
The case management of WPE will assist you with questions you may have
Phone: 0201 723 6600
Your first point of contact for registering at WPE is our Case Management team. It’s your point of contact for information and registration documents.
If you’re a patient from abroad, Case Management can also put you in contact with a suitable interpreting or translation service.
Important information: Right at the outset, we always need information on you and your diagnosis to enable us to give you or your case doctors personalised information about your situation. Case Management will be happy to give you all the necessary details.
After you or your case doctors have submitted your findings to us, we can make an initial preliminary statement on your suitability for treatment. You’ll also be given information on how long therapy will take, possible cost coverage and any costs to be expected if your health insurance does not cover proton therapy. However, a definitive decision on proton therapy is only made after the patient has attended for consultation and, if necessary, following further diagnostics at WPE.
We gladly invite you and an accompanying individual to an advisory meeting in our Proton Centre. If proton therapy is subsequently indicated for you, and you decide to undergo the treatment, we can then also make an appointment directly for the initial consultation and therapy planning session.
The initial consultation at WPE takes around 45 minutes during which one of our doctors will take down your medical history and carry out a physical examination. The medical disorder and treatment options are also discussed. An interpreter for your language can be called in.
You will then be given enough time to decide about proton therapy.
- Current findings and images from the last few days/weeks that are not yet available to us
- Results of a recent blood test (max. 2 weeks old)
- Current laboratory values: Creatinin, GFR, TSH, T3, T4
- Allergy, X-ray and Marcumar card (if available)
- Personal documents (passport)
- Personal medication or a list of the medication you take regularly
- Any other documents we’ve specifically requested
- Your reading glasses (if worn)
It goes without saying that you’re also welcome to bring someone with you to the meeting. If you have any further questions, our Case Management team will be happy to help.
Depending on the specific findings, the following diagnostic examinations may be necessary for planning your treatment:
- MRI
- CT
- Sonographs
- etc.
To enable us to conduct these examinations if necessary, it’s important to allow enough time on the day of the consultation. If you have questions about any outstanding examinations, please don’t hesitate to contact our Case Management team.
In principle, any tumour that can be irradiated using conventional radiotherapy can also be irradiated with protons. Also, proton therapy is suitable for tumours that have hitherto been inaccessible for radiotherapy, for example because they are too close to healthy vital organs.
Our radiotherapy team will examine your findings and images, and decide whether proton radiotherapy can be indicated in your particular case.
However, Case Management will also be able to give you an initial assessment and handle any questions you may have.
However, Case Management will also be able to give you an initial assessment and handle any questions you may have.
There are several accommodation options in Essen. Some are within walking distance, and others are elsewhere in the city. Case Management will be happy to help you.
Find out more about possible accommodation during your proton therapy.
For some disorders, it is necessary to undergo chemotherapy in parallel with radiotherapy. Chemotherapy can also be carried out at University Hospital Essen. Our doctors will clarify this with you and your home clinic in advance.
The average treatment time per radiotherapy session is around 30 minutes. This includes the time taken to fit the positioning aids. The actual proton radiation treatment itself takes just a few minutes. This makes it easy for you to build the radiotherapy sessions into your everyday routine.
Get key information on duration of treatment, and much more.
Contact us
Do you have questions about proton therapy? Then get in touch with our case management team. We are here for you.