Where is the Closest Proton Center to You?
Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that is more precise than conventional X-ray radiation. It delivers high doses of radiation directly to the tumor, minimizing the negative effects on healthy tissues and reducing the risk of debilitating side effects. This targeted approach has been shown to improve overall survival rates by minimizing toxicities, being biologically more potent at killing tumors or enabling more precise and escalated doses of radiation.
However, according to the National Association for Proton Therapy, over 70% of Americans live more than 100 miles away from a proton therapy center. As of November 2023, there are only 43 proton therapy centers in the US, and six centers are in development. Currently, for example, if a patient lives in the largest city in Montana, Billings, the closest proton therapy center is in Salt Lake City, Utah, over 550 miles away!
National Association for Proton Therapy. For a list of centers, go to https://proton-therapy.org/findacenter/
The good news is that the future of proton therapy is strong, with more collateral benefits emerging. For example, in the United States, proton therapy is typically covered by Medicare, and most medical insurers will consider proton therapy on a case-by-case basis. Another is that technology is advancing at a rapid pace. New proton therapy systems are being developed that are radically smaller as well as lower in cost and maintenance. Also, many of these new systems are being built with patient-centricity, meaning the patient experience is a driving force behind new designs.
One such product is Leo Cancer Care’s Marie™ system, an innovative particle therapy-compatible solution. Named after the Nobel Prize winner, Madame Marie Curie (1867 – 1934), this unique system positions a patient upright for proton radiation therapy and includes an upright CT scanner so simulation and treatment can be performed without moving the patient to another room.
This approach incorporates a fixed proton beam while the upright patient is slowly rotated, removing the need for a large, several-ton rotating gantry. With the gantry removed, the radiation treatment room can be significantly reduced in size. For healthcare systems, this means the ability to use current treatment space instead of building a new complex to house a massive system. Therefore, costs diminish, needed space decreases, and accessibility to patients will, hopefully, expand.
This is encouraging! As we understand more about proton therapy and apply that knowledge to real-world solutions, we can grow in the hope that the future is closer than we think.
“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
PLEASE NOTE: The Leo Cancer Care technology is not currently available to treat patients and is in the process of gaining regulatory approval.