CLEVELAND–We are weeks away from the opening of the Seidman Cancer Center.
Yet, what’s coming to University Hospitals in 2014 is about to make a huge impact.
The hospital plans to bring a $30 million dollar proton therapy center to Cleveland. It’ll be one of nine centers of its kind in the country and the only one in the city.
“Proton technology is a remarkable type of new radiation technology that will impact the way we treat patients with radiation,” said Dr. Nathan Levitan, president of the Seidman Cancer Center.
Compared to a traditional photon or X-ray therapy, the new proton technology allows doctors to treat cancer tumors accurately. It potentially can reduce the toxocity of the treatment in patients.
“This is heavier particle that delivers all of its energy whereever we tell it to, and the computers simulate it to do so,” said Dr. Stan gerson, director of the Seidman Cancer Center. “And so much greater percentage of the energy goes directly into the tumor and kills the tumor, protecting normal tissues.”
Doctors say this new technology may be incredibly valuable for the treatment of cancer in children and those in young adults, who are often prone to short- and long-term complications from radiation.
There are a number of centers that have been up-and-running for a few years,” Levitan said. “And they have treated largely patients with hard-to-reach tumors, particularly pediatric patients, some patients with brain tumors, some patients with prostate cancer.”
The hospital has signed an agreement to purchase the Monarch 250 Proton Therapy System from Still River Systems. The Monarch 250 is in its final stages of FDA approval, and is anticipated to be released soon.
Though proton-based therapy is still in its infancy, Levitan said the cutting-edge technology will help with treatment and potentially a cure.
“It is the next generation of radiation therapy technology and therefore, we’re committed to bring that to Ohio and to the nation,” he said.