Page 18 - Welcome to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therphy Center at the Seattle Northwest Hospital

An Introduction to Proton Therapy

After your visit to our Center, you may still have questions about proton therapy or you may want to share what you
have learned with your family and loved ones. Here is some information on proton therapy that may be helpful to you.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Patient Services manager or your personal Care Team.

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 pediatric 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. 1,3,4

Proton therapy for a brain tumor X-ray therapy for a brain tumor

High
Radiation

Tumor Tumor

Low
Radiation
With proton therapy, less healthy tissue is exposed to radiation With X-ray radiation therapy, more healthy tissue is exposed
(gray/white area indicates no radiation exposure) to radiation (colored area indicates radiation exposure)

SCCA Proton Therapy Center 1570 North 115th Street, Seattle, WA 98133 (877) 897-7628 3-1