Seattle proton center gets outfitted with cyclotron

CA Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center, located on Northwest Hospital & Medical Center’s campus in Seattle, has installed a cyclotron, which is used in proton therapy to accelerate protons to create a beam of energy that delivers treatments to cancer patients.

The center, which will open in spring 2013 and will have the capability treat approximately 1,400 patients annually, is the result of a partnership between ProCure Treatment Centers and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. It will be the first proton therapy center in the Northwest.

“Construction of the center is well underway since its groundbreaking last March and we anticipate to be treating patients by early 2013,” said Hadley Ford, CEO of ProCure.

The 220-ton cyclotron traveled for four weeks, leaving the Port of Antwerp, Belgium and entering the U.S. through the Port of Tacoma. The cyclotron has an 18-foot diameter and stands eight feet high. 

Proton therapy is especially effective for treating children and adults with anatomically complex tumors, such as those at the base of the skull and along the spinal cord. The 60,000-square-foot proton center is currently hiring leadership positions and will create approximately 400 temporary positions for construction and start-up operations.

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