Proton Therapy Facts  

Proton therapy:

• The most precise form of radiation treatment available today.
• Destroys the primary tumor site while leaving surrounding healthy tissue and organs intact and unharmed
• Non-invasive, painless, outpatient procedure
• Avoids many typical side effects of standard X-ray radiation
• Allows patients to maintain a good quality of life while being treated. Patients can continue normal activities like playing golf or tennis, swimming, walking, running or other exercise. 
• Can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatment modalities like chemotherapy 
• Treatment can take as few as five days for certain conditions up to eight weeks, depending on tumor sites.
• Highly preferred radiation treatment option for children who are susceptible to injury from standard X-ray radiation because their tissues and organs are growing rapidly
• Covered by Medicare and most health insurance providers
• Highly effective treatment for a wide range of localized tumors in the head and neck area, lung, prostate, bladder, spinal cord, gastro malignancies and ocular tumors, among others.

Limited availability:

• It’s fair to ask why proton therapy is not used everywhere, why it is so limited in availability.
• Until 1990, proton therapy was limited to physics research labs. And like most new technologies, building a proton center can be an expensive endeavor for universities and academic medical centers.
• Willis Knighton Cancer Center contracted with IBA, a medical equipment manufacturer that has miniaturized the machine. This technology, Proteus ONE, allows a decrease in the cost, size of machine and size of building required. The proton therapy center at Willis Knighton Health was the first of its kind in the world with this equipment.