Proton therapy is an effective form of radiation therapy used to treat many types of tumors and cancers. At Beaumont, our proton therapy team consists of radiation oncologists, physicists, oncology nurses, radiation therapists and dosimetrists. We also
have child-life specialists, pediatric speech pathologists, physical therapists and dietitians. If you undergo proton therapy, this multidisciplinary team of specialists will work with you throughout various phases of your treatment plan.
Specialized Cancer Experts
Because proton therapy can treat so many different types of tumors, your team will also include a doctor that specializes in your specific type of cancer; breast, prostate, head and neck, lung, brain, and more. For example, in pediatric cases, a physician
who specializes in pediatric oncology, along with a radiation oncologist, will also guide the treatment plan. In cases of brain cancer, a physician who specializes in neuro-oncology will be involved. The ultimate goal is to make sure treatment is
approached from multiple perspectives and areas of expertise, in order to maximize treatment effectiveness and to minimize negative patient side effects.
Proton Therapy Physicists
Proton medical physicists are a group of medical professionals who work behind the scenes to ensure high-quality patient care using high-energy particles. Their job includes establishing a quality control and radiation safety program at Beaumont's Proton
Therapy Center; cultivating medical physics and proton beam therapy education; commissioning and implementing the most advanced pencil beam scanning proton system. Most importantly, they are also scientists and inventors committed to improving treatment
outcomes and the patient’s quality of life through innovative ideas and new techniques.
Proton Therapy Nurse Navigator
At Beaumont, the first specialist you will typically speak with is a Proton Nurse Navigator. The role of the Nurse Navigator, along with one of our expert physicians, is to help determine if you are eligible for proton therapy and to get you prepared
and organized before beginning treatment. They will help with arranging any medical records needed, and help schedule your initial consultation with a radiation oncologist. The nurse navigator can also help with logistical planning that may impact
your treatment plan, such as lodging or transportation needs.
Call the Beaumont Proton Nurse Navigator at 248-551-8402 to get started.
Radiation Oncologists
Proton therapy is one subtype of radiation treatment. As the name suggests, the particles used to irradiate cancer cells during treatment are proton particles, opposed to the X-ray or gamma ray particles used in traditional radiation therapy. It is effectively
a more advanced form of radiation technology, renowned for its precise targeting and reduction of negative side effects.
Since proton therapy falls under the radiation therapy umbrella, much of your treatment will be under the guidance of a radiation oncologist. Radiation oncologists are specialized physicians trained in this particular subspecialty of cancer treatment,
opposed to surgical or medical oncology.
Beaumont was Michigan’s First Proton Therapy Facility
At Michigan's first Proton Therapy facility, Beaumont's radiation oncologists are world-renowned
leaders in radiation oncology, and experts in finding innovative ways to use technology to treat
cancer. And because they each specialize in one or two types of cancer, they're always looking for new ways to improve patient experiences and outcomes.
Our proton therapy specialists include: