Page 20 - Welcome to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therphy Center at the Seattle Northwest Hospital

Is proton therapy a new method of treatment?

As of 2014, more than 100,000 people worldwide have received proton therapy at centers in Europe, Asia and the
United States. Proton therapy was first used to treat patients in 1955 in a research setting, but its use was limited
because imaging techniques at the time could not accurately pinpoint tumors. The FDA approved proton therapy in
1988, following advances in imaging technology, such as CT, MRI and PET scans. The first hospital-based treatment
center opened in California in 1990.

Does insurance cover proton therapy?

Many U.S. insurance providers, including Medicare and many state Medicaid programs, cover proton therapy treatments.

How can I learn more about proton therapy for my specific cancer?

You can find information on disease-specific conditions and proton therapy, as well as many disease-specific resources
at www.SCCAprotontherapy.com.

1. S. Ternier, Ph.D. Proton Therapy White Paper. On file.
2. Fowler J. What Can We Expect from Dose Escalation Using Proton Beams. Clinical Oncology 2003,15:S10-S15
3. MacDonald S., DeLaney T. and Loeffler J. Proton Beam Radiation Therapy. Radiation Oncology 2006, 24:199-208.
4. Miralbell et al. Potential reduction of the incidence of radiation-induced second cancers by using proton beam in the
treatment of pediatric tumors. Int J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 2002;54(3) 824-829.
5. Greco et al. Current Status of Radiotherapy with Proton and Light Ion Beams. Cancer January 2007.

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