SCCA Proton Therapy Center uses highly targeted radiation to treat complex tumors. Call (877) 897-7628 or email [email protected].
SCCA Proton Therapy Center is the only proton therapy center in the Pacific Northwest and a seven-state region surrounding region. Our doctors are excited to have proton therapy as part of their arsenal in making the most targeted and effective treatments available to patients. As an advanced form of radiation treatment, proton therapy can be calibrated with great precision to selectively kill cancer cells while avoiding healthy tissue.
With the opening of SCCA Proton Therapy Center at Northwest Hospital, patients in our region who can benefit from proton therapy will no longer need to travel to other parts of the country for a multi-week course of treatment.
The clinical benefits proton therapy offers over standard X-ray treatment for certain types of cancer are becoming increasingly well known. The accuracy of the delivery of proton radiation, for example, reduces damage to the healthy tissues and organs surrounding tumors. Other benefits include fewer side effects, including a decreased risk of developing secondary tumors (cancers that result from radiation treatment).
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Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) is a cancer treatment center that unites doctors from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Our goal, every day, is to turn cancer patients into cancer survivors, using the most advanced technology available.
What is Proton Therapy?
Proton therapy is a next-generation radiation treatment that precisely targets tumors, minimizing radiation to healthy tissue and improving the lives of patients with cancer.
Proton therapy deposits the greatest amount of radiation right into the tumor and then stops, allowing patients to receive high doses with less risk of damage to nearby healthy tissue. This more targeted form of radiation is especially useful for childhood cancers, where the impact of excess, harmful radiation causes long-term damage.
Research shows proton therapy can minimize short- and long-term side effects, reduce the occurrence of secondary tumors and improve patients’ quality of life.
Who administers Proton Therapy?
Our doctors are medical faculty at the University of Washington and practice at SCCA as well as other UW Medicine sites, including Northwest Hospital and Harborview Medical Center.
Who can use Proton Therapy?
Precise targeting gives proton therapy a significant advantage over standard radiation therapy when treating tumors near vital organs. Studies have shown proton therapy is beneficial in treating a broad range of tumors, including those of the brain, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, left breast, lung, and prostate, as well as sarcomas and certain childhood cancers.
Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer?
Proton therapy is a great choice for prostate cancer due to its quality-of-life advantages and few side effects.
Proton Therapy for Childhood Cancers?
Because it is so targeted, proton therapy can be particularly effective in treating children, who are more sensitive to the effects of radiation. The precision of protons means a reduced chance of radiation side effects, such as growth and developmental problems, as well as secondary tumors later in life.
What is Proton Therapy like?
It is safe, non-invasive and painless for most patients. It does not require an overnight stay in the hospital. Treatments are usually given five days a week, for a period of four to nine weeks. The total number of treatments needed depends on the location and size of the tumor. The actual treatment time is about one minute but total daily treatment sessions typically range from 15 to 60 minutes due to the time spent positioning the patient for this precise treatment.
Why do we offer Proton Therapy?
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) has long been dedicated to excellence in cancer research, innovation, education, and patient treatment. A major focus of SCCA is to speed the transfer of new diagnostic and treatment techniques from the research setting to the patient while providing premier, patient-focused cancer care. When SCCA began evaluating the potential for a proton therapy center, there were only ten centers operating in the country, and none within one thousand miles of Seattle, causing patients to face long waiting times for treatment and cross-country travel for access to care. Patients who come to SCCA receive the latest research-based cancer therapies as well as cutting-edge treatments for a number of non-malignant diseases.
Is Proton Therapy a new method of treatment?
More than 100,000 people worldwide have received proton therapy at centers in Europe, Asia and the United States. It was first used to treat patients in 1955 in a research setting, but its use was limited because imaging techniques could not accurately pinpoint tumors. Following advances made in imaging technology such as CT imaging, MRI and PET scans, the first hospital-based treatment center opened in California in 1990. The FDA approved proton therapy in 1988.
Does insurance cover Proton Therapy?
Many U.S. insurance providers, including the U.S Medicare program and many state Medicaid programs, cover proton therapy treatments.
