Benefits of Proton Therapy

Proton therapy is a powerful, effective cancer treatment that delivers precision treatment with fewer side effects.

It does this by directing the bulk of its cancer-killing radiation to the tumor, causing less damage to nearby healthy tissue and fewer complications and post-treatment toxicities. 

Proton therapy is an essential tool for world-class cancer care.

It is the standard of care for pediatric cancers and the preferred therapy for many other cancers, including complicated head and neck malignancies, large base of skull tumors, esophageal cancer, localized recurrent cancer, and certain ocular tumors. 

Additionally, as advances in treatment improve the long-term survival of patients with common malignancies such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer, there is an urgent need to reduce treatment toxicities, like those that lead to decreased cognition in brain tumor patients and impaired heart function in breast cancer patients. Proton therapy is a proven cancer-killing treatment that can improve these patients’ survival and quality of life as compared to conventional x-ray radiation.

Proton Therapy at Duke

By integrating proton therapy across research disciplines, we will forge new pathways to understand cancer and optimize treatment. We seek to:

• offer cutting-edge proton therapy treatment, ensuring precise tumor targeting and reducing long-term complications.
• prioritize pediatric care, capitalizing on proton therapy’s benefits for our younger patients.
• broaden treatment accessibility, ensuring that geographical constraints don’t deprive patients of care.
• fuel research into new applications and complementary therapies for enhanced effectiveness.
• enhance clinical training and research, guaranteeing medical professionals remain at the forefront of therapeutic knowledge.
• enrich our community’s health care options, attracting medical excellence and fostering regional pride.
• contribute to long-term health care savings by minimizing complications and future interventions.

Adding proton therapy to Duke’s capability will ensure Duke’s excellence as a top cancer center for patient care, education, and research. Proton therapy will:

• expand patient treatment options, offering patients improved quality and breadth of care while allowing them to access all their specialists and treatments in one place, reducing their financial burden, travel time, expense, and stress.
• conduct cutting-edge research into new applications for other cancers that builds on Duke’s expertise across medical physics and oncology.
• harness Duke’s clinical trial expertise to translate research into new insights and improved therapies.
• help Duke attract and retain the top faculty, clinicians, and trainees in medical physics, oncology, and other areas, advancing cutting-edge research and patient care.

Proton therapy’s precise targeting of tumor cells is especially important for treating tumors while safeguarding nearby vital tissues and protecting younger patients who have heightened sensitivity to radiation.

What's Next?

Duke has a window of opportunity to add proton therapy and retain regional excellence in cancer care. There are only 46 proton therapy facilities in the U.S., with the closest centers in Hampton, Virginia; Atlanta; and Charlotte. 

Duke Cancer Institute is consistently ranked the top cancer center in North Carolina and this project is important to keeping that status and providing exceptional cancer care. Duke is collaborating with Legion Healthcare Partners, an experienced and trusted proton therapy developer, owner, and operator, to bring proton therapy to Duke Health.

With philanthropic support, this partnership will enable Duke to bring this essential therapy to our patients and further our education and research missions in the shortest time possible with the least amount of capital expense and risk.

You Can Make a Difference

Philanthropic partners are essential to our success. We have raised $50 million of the $121 million total cost. With your help, we hope to secure additional resources to bring this much-needed technology to Duke. The Duke Proton Center will benefit our patients and advance innovations to improve the care of cancer patients around the world. We anticipate offering naming recognition to donors who make significant philanthropic commitments to bring proton therapy to Duke. Opportunities are likely to include the lobby, exam and treatment rooms, and other interior spaces recognizing gifts at various levels. All naming opportunities are subject to Duke University Board of Trustees policies and approval.