Fight Cancer, Not Schedules: Washington, D.C.’s Most Advanced Proton Therapy, with Appointments Available Within 48 Hours.

When it comes to cancer treatment, it’s important to seek care from an experienced team who has access to the latest therapies and technology—and someone who will prioritize getting you on the schedule. Proton therapy is an advanced radiation cancer treatment used to treat a wide range of tumors anywhere in the body. Its exceptional precision makes it an excellent option for many cancers, with many benefits. 

Many people are candidates for this radiation therapy, and the best way to know your best options is to talk to one of our specialists. Our team of proton therapy experts is committed to seeing patients within 48 hours, providing the care you need.

More hope in the fight against cancer, now with less wait.

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer, you may have a lot of questions. Getting the answers to these questions, including information about your best treatment options, is critical to ensuring you make the best decisions about what to do next. By offering 48-hour access to appointments with our proton therapy experts, you can find out whether this advanced cancer treatment may be a safe, effective option for you.

Proton therapy offers numerous benefits for patients, including:

1. Potential for improved outcomes.

Receiving the best treatment from the outset can significantly improve your chances of a positive outcome. Proton therapy uses proton particles targeted  precisely to match the shape, size, and depth of tumors with virtually no exit dose. As a result, this advanced form of radiation spares more surrounding normal tissue compared to conventional radiation. By minimizing radiation to these vital organs, proton therapy may reduce side effects and allow for higher doses of radiation, which may enhance patient outcomes.

2. Fast access to highly-targeted cancer treatment, with the most precise form of proton therapy available today.

At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, we were the first proton therapy facility in the Washington D.C., metropolitan area and the first site in the world to offer the most advanced form of proton therapy, known as HYPERSCAN™. This system is the fastest and most accurate proton therapy system available, and we remain the only facility in Washington, D.C. that provides it. During your initial consultation with us, you can quickly find out whether this treatment may be right for you or explore other treatment options.

3. Less risk of unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Traditional radiation therapy employs photons, or x-ray beams, to target tumors. While photons effectively destroy tumor cells, they can also harm everything in their path, including healthy cells and surrounding structures.

In contrast, proton therapy uses proton particles to treat tumors. Protons can be controlled more precisely than conventional radiation, allowing for targeted treatment. As a result, proton therapy can focus on the tumor without causing radiation to continue past it, which means there is virtually no “exit dose” of radiation. This precision helps protect surrounding tissues from unnecessary radiation exposure, potentially reducing both short-term and long-term side effects.

4. Fewer potential side effects and improved quality of life during and after treatment.

Proton therapy is highly targeted, ensuring the highest levels of radiation are deposited directly to the tumor with less impact on surrounding healthy tissues. Therefore, this approach can reduce the risk of side effects, allowing you to get back to your life more quickly.

5. Lowered risk of radiation-induced secondary cancers.

Numerous studies indicate that this therapy effectively targets and destroys cancerous cells while minimizing impact to nearby healthy tissue. As a result, patients are exposed to lower levels of radiation, reducing their risk of developing a secondary cancer caused by radiation later in life. This is particularly important when considering the best treatment approach for children with cancer.

6. Faster, more efficient treatment, reducing any potential margin of error.

Proton therapy with HYPERSCAN operates more quickly than other proton pencil beam scanning systems. This speed allows us to reduce the margin of error in treating tumors that are affected by breathing or organ motion. As a result, we may be able to enhance treatment accuracy and patient comfort during treatment. 
​

Speed and experience matter when it comes to cancer treatment.

As the first and most experienced proton therapy facility in the Washington, D.C. region, we provide the world’s most advanced and precise proton therapy—now with less wait. Since every cancer is unique, it’s crucial to seek care from professionals with expertise in your specific condition. Our team of expert radiation oncologists uses a multidisciplinary approach that includes tumor boards to customize treatments based on each patient’s condition and goals. 

Our oncologists and researchers continually seek better methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, including innovative approaches using proton therapy and other radiation techniques in clinical trials. By choosing to receive care from our proton therapy specialists, you gain access to clinical trials that may be difficult to find elsewhere.

In addition, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center serves as our research engine and is the only comprehensive cancer center in the Washington D.C., region designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) providing access to clinical trials and breakthrough cancer treatments.
​

Get greater peace of mind with timely answers.

You shouldn’t have to wait to get the important answers you need to make treatment decisions. With quick access to our proton therapy specialists, we can help you understand your diagnosis and explore all of your treatment options, including the potential benefits of proton therapy. If other radiation therapies are more appropriate for your type of cancer, you’ll have access to a complete range of advanced radiation technologies, with a treatment plan tailored specifically for you.