About Proton Therapy
Bernt Nordin,
President, IBA Particle Therapy, Inc.
The university's ability to make this vision a reality is inspirational for the entire radiation oncology community. IBA is proud to be associated with such a prestigious institution and to partner with Hampton in it's missionto improve cancer patient outcomes. It is very clear that this will be the largest, most equipped and the most beautiful proton therapy facility in the world. Bernt Nordin
The first suggestion that energetic protons could provide an effective cancer treatment was made by renown scientist Robert R. Wilson in a paper published in 1946. The first treatments were performed at particle accelerators built for nuclear physics research, such as the Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory. The first hospital based proton treatment canter in the United States was built in 1990 at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California. This was followed by the Northeast Proton Therapy Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute at Indiana University.
Today, cancer treatment with proton therapy is on the rise. There are five currently-operating centers in the United States, and at least eight more in the planning, design and construction phases. Of these, Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) will be the largest and most advanced.
Proton Therapy is the most precise form of radiation treatment. Proton therapy targets the tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, causing far fewer side effects than traditional therapy.
Benefits
- Proton therapy is widely recognized as the most effective external beam method in the selective destruction of cancer cells.
- Non-invasive
- Minimal side affects
- Most precise treatment, targeting only the tumor
- Healthy tissue around the tumor is spared
Treatment Experience
- Treatments are completely painless.
- The actual radiation time is a matter of seconds.
- Patients receive outpatient treatment, with each appointment time being 15-30 minutes per day for five to eight weeks.