CINCINNATI, Aug. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and UC Health are celebrating the grand opening of the new Proton Therapy Center. Located at Cincinnati Children's Liberty Campus, the $120 million facility is one of the most advanced proton research and cancer treatment centers in the world. The first patients are expected to be treated in September.
"This important investment will transform cancer care for children and adults and generate a new wave of discovery," said Michael Fisher, president and CEO at Cincinnati Children's. "Proton is advanced cancer therapy. I am pleased it is now available to our pediatric patients with the most challenging types of cancer, underscoring our deep commitment to always provide the safest and most effective treatment options."
"The opening of this facility is the culmination of almost a decade of conversations and planning, and we are excited to begin providing treatment to an average of 200 adult patients per year nationally and globally," said Richard Lofgren, president and CEO of UC Health. "This facility, together with the expertise of the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's, will give patients access to a level of cancer care available in only a handful of locations around the world."
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What is Proton Therapy?
Proton therapy is a form of radiation treatment used for certain types of cancers. The medical procedure involves a type of particle therapy utilizing a beam of protons to blast diseased tissue with remarkable precision. It works by extracting positively charged protons from hydrogen gas and accelerating them through a cyclotron (a particle accelerator) up to nearly 2/3 the speed of light. The protons are guided to the tumor site by powerful magnetic and electrical fields. They carry just enough charge to reach a precise point in the tumor.
Traditional radiation treatment kills targeted cancer cells but can also damage surrounding healthy tissue. It's estimated as much as one-third of the radiation dose a patient receives can wind up deposited away from the targeted tumor. Proton therapy is expected to significantly reduce the risks because of its precision, allowing cancer survivors to have far fewer long-term consequences.
The types of cancer best treated by proton therapy include Hodgkin lymphoma, pediatric brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and soft tissue sarcomas. In the adult population, the targeted treatment is specifically helpful in cancers of the brain, eyes, head, neck, lungs, prostate and spinal cord.
