dmbart,

I had proton radiation for a local recurrence in 2013, and was my last, hopefully. It's highly precise, and more radiation goes to the tumor bed, and less to nearby structures and skin, and no exit either (hair loss). There were restrictions for its use in head and neck cancer, like prior therapy failing, but some head and neck cancers can have it due to critical areas involved and or in clinical trials, but that could have changed in this fast changing field.

The is also new Proton Therapy called IMPT, and Pencil Beam, which has the ability to change radiation fields, pretty much like IMRT does, which cuts down on treatment time, changing nozzles.

Good luck