Proton Therapy Center Reaches New Milestone

The Marjorie and Leonard Williams Center for Proton Therapy at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, in partnership with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, recently celebrated the milestone of treating its 200th pediatric proton therapy patient.

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses proton beams rather than X-rays to treat selected tumors in adult and pediatric patients. It precisely targets tumors while sparing the surrounding, healthy tissue, leaving fewer side effects for patients. As a result, proton therapy is a better option for treating some types of cancer, especially adult cancers near vital organs and in pediatric patients whose bodies are still growing.

“While each and every proton therapy patient is special and unique, reaching the 200-patient milestone is a concrete indicator of the valuable and critical service we have provided throughout Central Florida and beyond,” said Dr. Naren Ramakrishna, the director of proton therapy at Orlando Health Cancer Institute.

This next-generation technology is an example of how Orlando Health continues to bring state-of-the-art technology and practices to better treat our patients.

Now, a second proton therapy center is urgently needed. One of every four patients in need of proton therapy is a child, each receiving guaranteed appointments for the duration of their treatment regimen. As our proton facility reaches capacity, this creates fewer openings for new patient appointments, pushing their start-date out further. Without a second proton center, patients in need of this life-saving care will be forced to defer treatment until time is available.

Philanthropic support helps the Orlando Health Cancer Institute grow its services and expand offerings for patient care. To make a gift in support of proton therapy, please visit Give.OrlandoHealth.com/ProtonTherapy.