What is the difference between photon and proton radiation?

Photon beams make up traditional x-rays, carry a low radiation charge and have a much lower mass than proton beams. Much of photon beams' energy is deposited in the healthy tissue surrounding a tumor due to their low charge and mass causing side effects and unnecessary tissue damage while sometimes not even reaching the tumor with an adequate enough dose.

Proton beams, on the other hand, can be energized to specific speeds or velocities that determine how deeply and where the beams will deliver their radiation. As the proton radiation beams move through the body, they slow down as they interact with orbiting electrons. When the protons have slowed down sufficiently, they release a burst of energy. The physician designs the proton radiation treatment so this burst occurs at the precise site of the cancer, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and side effects.