Proton therapy – precise cancer treatment – is available in Baltimore
Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation that often results in fewer side effects than traditional radiation. The therapy has been FDA approved for cancer treatment since 1988, but only about two dozen centers currently exist in the United States.
The Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC) brought proton therapy to the state of Maryland in February 2016, and has treated more than 1000 patients to date. MPTC’s unique technology gives some patients access to a potentially curative option they otherwise may not have been able to receive.
MPTC is affiliated with the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center.
For patients with cancerous and even noncancerous tumors, proton therapy can be an effective solution.
What it is: super-precise radiation
Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation that treats solid, localized tumors. The treatment targets tumors with millimeter precision. It destroys cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
The Varian ProBeam® Proton Therapy System at MPTC uses a 90-ton cyclotron to accelerate protons to two-thirds of the speed of light and then down a beam line the length of a football field and into one of the center’s five treatment rooms.
Using a proton beam, physicians control where the proton beam releases its energy. The advanced form of proton therapy available at MPTC – pencil beam scanning proton therapy – conforms to the shape and depth of the tumor, eradicating the tumor and sparing the surrounding tissues.
Proton therapy’s accuracy allows physicians in select cases to use a higher dose of radiation than standard radiation treatments, meaning it can more effectively treat some tumors that standard radiation cannot.
Is Proton Therapy right for you?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, proton therapy may help.
Proton therapy has shown proven, positive results in treating prostate tumors; brain, spine, and base-of-skull tumors; lung and thoracic tumors; head and neck tumors; pediatric cancers; breast cancer; gastrointestinal cancers; sarcomas; and lymphomas. Other complex cancer conditions, such as patients who have had prior radiation therapy, receive a new chance of cure with proton re-irradiation.
Minimal side effects: Proton therapy can minimize side effects and preserve patient quality of life better than traditional radiation therapy.
Cost Neutral Proton Therapy: MPTC charges the same price for proton therapy as conventional radiation, leading many insurance companies to cover the treatment.
Why patients in and outside Maryland choose MPTC: Aside from being the only proton facility in Maryland, MPTC offers advanced intensity-modulated proton therapy in all treatment rooms, the only multi-room proton center on the East coast to do so.
Common
Radiation oncologists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine lead MPTC. They are involved in cutting-edge research and clinical trials, giving patients the most options available to optimize their cancer care.
These experts are formally trained in proton therapy to treat a wide variety of cancers. On average, MPTC physicians have 25 years of clinical experience and more than 30 years of combined proton therapy experience.
MPTC also has compassionate staff members who understand the challenges cancer treatment brings. A complimentary concierge team helps patients every step of the way—before, during and after treatment. Team members will coordinate and communicate with patients’ primary care and oncology teams.
Patients also receive free valet parking and assistance to and from the airport, if needed. Out-of-town patients can get advice on lodging, dining, pharmacies and other information.
Proton therapy is one of a few advanced tools doctors use when it comes to treating cancer. Everyone with cancer should know about and understand all available treatment options, including proton therapy.
To learn more about proton therapy and to schedule a consultation, contact MPTC at 410-369-5200 or visit mdproton.com.