The best way to determine if proton therapy is a good treatment option for you is to meet one of our radiation oncologists in consultation or be seen in one of our multi-disciplinary clinics. During a consultation visit, your doctor will work with you to develop an overall plan of care, discuss all radiation treatment options, including proton therapy, discuss the details of treatment, including the potential risks and side effects, and answer questions. Proton therapy is only one of Winship at Emory’s cancer treatment tools. Our multidisciplinary team will look at your case, compare the benefits and risks of different treatment options, and then recommend what may work best for you.

Proton therapy uses protons, positively charged subatomic particles that are heavy, whereas standard x-ray radiation uses photons or x-rays with no mass and no charge. Whereas proton therapy deposits a small dose of radiation on way to target with greater dose in the diseased cells, x-ray radiation deposits the entry dose of radiation close to the skin, with the remaining dose on the diseased cells. Finally, protons stop releasing energy at the tumor (there is no “exit dose” of radiation), while x-ray radiation releases energy along the entire path they travel, potentially exposing healthy tissues and organs to unnecessary radiation.

All of our treatment rooms use the most advanced pencil beam scanning technology (also known as Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy or IMPT). A narrow stream of protons is steered by a magnet to “paint” the radiation to match the size, shape, and depth of the target, increasing intensity and dose layer by layer within the tumor. This allows for maximum flexibility in treatment planning and sparing of healthy tissues and surrounding organs.

Over 220,000 patients have been treated with proton therapy worldwide.

No, you are able to self-refer. We will require you to provide information about your doctor’s offices so we can collect the necessary medical records to review prior to your visit with us.

The average time from inquiry to consultation is about seven business days. This may vary based on disease site, clinical urgency, and ability for center to collect necessary medical records prior to appointment.

As the only proton therapy center in the state of Georgia, we serve as a specialized resource for patients across the region. If you are already under the care of other specialists outside of Emory, we will partner with them in your treatment, whether they’re across town or across the world.

We will work with you to provide a clear understanding of your insurance benefits and potential financial responsibilities with treatment. Emory Proton Therapy Center is contracted with many private insurance plans as well as Medicare. If coverage is denied, a physician from the insurance company will usually contact your physician at the proton center to discuss the insurance company’s policy on proton therapy. Depending on the company, the peer-to-peer review may also provide your physician with an opportunity to explain why proton therapy is recommended in your care. If treatment is still denied, our insurance team will work closely with you to file appeals.

There is a wide variety of lodging options designed to meet a range of price points and amenity requirements. Our goal is to help our patients find lodging that supports their care. We have partnered with several nearby hotels to offer patients discounted nightly rates. Out-of-town patients may also be interested in short term rentals. If assistance is needed in assessing options, a member of our Patient Experience team will assist.

Most patients have no restrictions on their daily activity during radiation therapy. Many patients come independently for treatment each day.

All treatments have potential side effects and risks. The potential side effects of treatment depend on the type of tumor and where it is in the body. If proton therapy is a good option for treatment, it is because the side effects are likely to be fewer and/or the risks lower than other treatment options. Potential side effects and risks of treatment are discussed during consultation.

Like other types of radiation treatments, proton therapy is invisible and painless.

No, proton therapy is not experimental. Proton therapy has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1990 and has been used in the United States for more than 50 years.

Our top priority is the safety of our patients, staff and visitors. To minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission and to protect the health of those who visit our building, we are committed to following CDC, federal, and state guidelines, including: * Requiring all patients, visitors, staff, and vendors to be fully masked while in the building. * Asking that patients and visitors remain socially distanced in all waiting areas. * Requiring all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. * Providing hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the building. * More frequent cleaning of waiting rooms, changing rooms, bathrooms, and patient areas.

Proton therapy is an outpatient treatment performed in the Emory Proton Therapy Center. You do not stay overnight.

Each patient has low-dose X-ray images obtained at the treatment machine to ensure you are positioned correctly before treatment. Your physician reviews this imaging each day. This is called “image-guided” radiation therapy and is standard when delivering precise radiation like proton therapy.

All four of the gantry treatment rooms are functionally identical. During the course of treatment, you may occasionally receive treatment in a different treatment room to help adhere to the day’s treatment schedule, or if there is downtime in your regular treatment room. If you are normally receiving treatment in the fixed-beam room, your treatment cannot automatically be changed to one of the gantry rooms.

Proton treatment sessions are typically delivered daily, Monday through Friday. The total duration of treatment depends on your diagnosis and other factors, and may vary between three to eight weeks, with the average being six weeks of treatment. The number of treatments recommended for your diagnosis is discussed in consultation with your treating physician.

Most patients spend about 30 minutes in the treatment room each day. Most of that time is spent getting set up for treatment and ensuring everything is aligned properly before the treatment is delivered. The actual treatment is typically delivered in a few minutes.

Many patients receive concurrent treatments or may have other medical procedures during their course of proton therapy. Our team will coordinate with your other medical providers so that you can receive all necessary treatments.

The chance of controlling the disease or cure depends on many factors including the type of tumor, how advanced the disease is, and the use and success of other treatments. Clinical experience and published results of proton therapy in the treatment of many different conditions have shown results at least as good as those achieved with other radiation techniques but with potentially fewer side effects or risks. In some tumors, results with proton therapy are among the best reported. Expectations from treatment will be discussed as part of the consultation process.

If you live too far away to commute for treatment, our team will work with you to identify local housing options.