Our Expertise
As part of the Karmanos Cancer Institute — one of 56 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in U.S. — our advanced technology includes pencil-beam scanning and image guided proton therapy, designed to treat tumors with extreme precision. As a result, healthy tissue and organs are spared from more than 70 percent of unnecessary radiation delivered by other methods, leaving patients with possibly fewer side effects and complications.
Cancers Treated by Proton Therapy
Since proton therapy spares healthy tissue, the treatment is used commonly on solid tumors in sensitive areas of the body where conventional therapy may cause short or long-term harm, and even risk of secondary cancer. Those cases may involve tumors close to critical structures, difficult to treat cancers, and recurrent cancer after receiving previous radiation. Proton therapy is particularly of additional value for cancer patients who have many more years to live, such as pediatric, adolescent and young adults.
Developmental problems and risk of secondary cancers on their young lives is significantly reduced, thus giving them a better quality of life than if they were to undergo traditional radiation treatments. While proton therapy is not appropriate for all cancers, the therapy is particularly applicable to treat certain cancers, including primary, as well as select metastatic cancers.
Here are some examples of indications:
- Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer
- Bladder Cancer (select cases)
- Brain and Central Nervous System Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Head and Neck, and Skull Base Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Lymphoma (especially in the neck, mediastinum and abdomen)
- Liver Cancer (especially hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver cancer)
- Lung Cancer (especially centrally located and tumors spread to lymph nodes in the mediastinum)
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Sarcoma
- Spine and Chest Wall-involving Cancer
- Select Gynecological and Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Recurrent Disease (even if previous radiation has been given)
How To Refer a Patient
If you think proton therapy may be the best option for your patient, call us to schedule a physician-to-physician case review, or send us a referral form.
Physician Referral
Download vCard
Information For Your Patients
Lodging
Patients receiving proton therapy require treatment daily for approximately six to eight weeks. McLaren Hospitality House was designed with this in mind and provides easy access to treatment, support services and care for other medical needs.
Lodging and Directions