When it comes to radiation treatment, accuracy and experience matters. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is the first and most experienced 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 with HYPERSCAN™—greatly enhancing the care and convenience of patients throughout the region.
Types of tumors we treat with proton therapy
Proton therapy can treat tumors anywhere in the body, including:
- Brain tumors
- Breast cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Gynecologic cancer
- Head and neck tumors
- Lung and chest cancers
- Lymphomas
- Pediatric tumors
- Prostate cancer
- Recurrent, previously irradiated tumors
- Sarcoma/soft tissue tumors
Is proton therapy right for me?
Proton therapy can treat tumors anywhere in the body. It is especially beneficial for patients who:
- Have tumors near critical organs in the body, like the brain, heart, or lungs
- Have recurrent cancer and have had radiation in the past
- Are pediatric patients who may benefit long-term with less risk of developing a radiation-induced secondary cancer
As the most experienced team in the Washington, D.C. region, our radiation oncologists are experts in evaluating each patient’s unique case. Contact us today to discuss whether you may be a good candidate for proton therapy or another radiation treatment.
Benefits of proton therapy at MedStar Georgetown
As the first hospital to introduce proton therapy in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area—and the only one in the area with HYPERSCAN technology—MedStar Georgetown has more experience treating cancer with proton therapy than anyone else in the region.
Patients also choose us because we offer:
- Superior technology, using the fastest and most precise proton system available today. As the only Proton Therapy Center in Washington, D.C. treating patients with the Mevion S250I HYPERSCAN system, our patients receive safe and effective radiation that results in less damage to surrounding healthy tissue, potentially leading to fewer side effects, lower risks of secondary cancers, and more. See how it works
- Unmatched expertise in treating common and complex cancers with proton therapy. No two cancers are the same, and it’s important to seek care from someone with experience in treating yours. Many of our radiation oncologists are fellowship-trained and focus exclusively on treating certain types of cancers in patients of all ages. Learn about the types of cancers we treat
- Patient-centered care using a multidisciplinary approach.
Our patients benefit from the collective input of different specialists who work together to develop comprehensive treatment plans that consider all possible options. Our radiation oncologists work closely with surgeons, medical oncologists, and others, meeting in multidisciplinary tumor boards to design individualized care plans that integrate the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual aspects of cancer treatment—all within the same facility.
Meet your cancer team
- Dedicated care coordination and support so you and your family can focus on treatment. As our first point of contact, our administrator has deep knowledge of the various treatment options so patients can get answers to questions before they even meet with their physician team. In addition, she helps cancer patients navigate diagnosis, treatment, and life outside of the hospital, providing seamless coordination with the various members of your care team.
- Access to the latest advances in proton therapy research and clinical trials.
Our research engine, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only comprehensive cancer center in the Washington D.C., region designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), offering breakthrough therapies and the latest in cancer treatments. Our oncologists and researchers continue to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, including studying innovative ways to use proton therapy and other forms of radiation in clinical trials.
Visit us today
This highly effective therapy could help get your life back on track, cancer-free. Watch the videos to learn more below.
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Proton therapy vs. conventional radiation
The photons in standard x-ray therapy radiate everything in their path, including structures behind the tumor. With proton therapy, we’re able to deliver a high dose of radiation to the target and minimize the radiation to the surrounding areas.
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What to Expect During Proton Therapy
At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, your compassionate team of proton therapy radiation experts will guide you through each step of your treatment and offer personalized care and support throughout your recovery.
How proton therapy with HYPERSCAN works
At MedStar Georgetown, we treat all patients with the Mevion S250i proton therapy system with HYPERSCAN™ technology, the most advanced and precise form of proton therapy available today.
- First, our planning system creates a 3-dimensional representation of your tumor and relays the information to our technology.
- Then, our innovative HYPERSCAN machine uses a pencil beam proton scanner to precisely target the exact size, shape, depth, and location of your tumor, delivering radiation one layer at a time.
- The proton particles deposit the highest radiation dose to the tumor and then stop, leaving no exit dose. As a result, normal tissues receive less radiation exposure than other systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What can I expect?
Our team is committed to helping you find out if proton therapy is right for you, answer questions, and guide you through the process. Find out what to expect with proton therapy.
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What is the difference between proton therapy and conventional radiation?
Traditional radiation therapy uses photons, or x-ray beams, to treat tumors. Photons radiate the tumor cells but also everything in their path, including healthy cells and structures around and behind the tumor. Proton therapy uses proton particles to treat tumors.
Protons can be controlled better than conventional radiation, making this treatment more precise. As a result, proton therapy can treat tumors without radiation continuing past the tumor (an “exit dose” of radiation). This protects surrounding tissues from unnecessary radiation exposure, potentially reducing short and long-term side effects.
Watch the video below to learn more about the difference between proton therapy and standard radiation.
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What types of cancers or tumors can proton therapy treat?
Proton therapy can treat cancer anywhere in the body, including:
- Brain tumors
- Breast cancer
- Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers
- Gynecologic cancers
- Head and neck tumors
- Lung/chest cancers
- Lymphomas
- Pediatric tumors
- Prostate cancer
- Recurrent, previously irradiated tumors
- Sarcoma/soft tissue
- Spinal cord tumors
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Who is a candidate for proton therapy?
An adult or child of any age may be a potential candidate for proton therapy. Our radiation oncologists will thoroughly review your case to determine whether proton therapy or another course of treatment will be the safest, most effective option for you.
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How does proton therapy work?
At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, we use the fastest and most precise form of proton therapy with HYPERSCAN™ technology, further enhancing our ability to target treatment with less impact to the surrounding healthy tissue.
Proton therapy with HYPERSCAN uses pencil beam scanning to deliver radiation that matches your tumor’s exact shape and size in 3-D. This allows a single layer of a tumor to be treated at a time, in effect painting the tumor with radiation layer-by-layer and slice-by-slice until the entire area has been treated.
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What are the benefits of proton therapy?
Proton therapy with HYPERSCAN pencil beam scanning is more accurate than most other forms of radiation therapy, including older proton therapy systems. With greater precision and no exit dose, it involves significantly less radiation exposure to normal tissues which can lower the risk of side effects and secondary, radiation-induced cancers. As a result, proton therapy is often an excellent option for treating recurrent cancers and children with cancer.
In addition, proton therapy with HYPERSCAN is the fastest form of proton therapy available. This ensures patients can be treated more quickly and with more comfort with technology that minimizes motion risk. The entire process is non-invasive and painless.
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Does insurance cover proton therapy?
Proton therapy coverage varies by insurance company and disease site. With additional research, the number of conditions appropriate for proton therapy is increasing. We have a dedicated team of experienced financial coordinators who work closely with patients and families and behind the scenes to obtain authorization or assist in the appeal process, if necessary. Our entire team advocates for coverage of your treatment, providing the appropriate clinical information and recommendations to your insurance provider so you can focus on caring for yourself.
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How do I know if proton therapy is right for me?
Your first step will be to meet with one of our radiation oncologists for an evaluation. During this appointment, our team will review your medical records and diagnosis, and discuss the risks and benefits of each of your potential radiation treatment options. You and your physician will then determine the best plan of care based on a number of factors, including your cancer type, your tumor’s location, size, and stage, and how well it may respond to different radiation therapies under consideration.
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What happens next?
If we determine that proton therapy is your best treatment option, your radiation oncologist and physicist will work together to build a treatment plan. Each plan is carefully configured to meet your needs. If proton therapy is not the best treatment option for you, we offer the full range of radiation therapies available today and will consider other options that better meet your needs.
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How many proton therapy treatments will I need?
The length of your treatment course will differ based on your specific diagnosis. In general, the number of individual treatment sessions ranges from 10 to 40, depending upon your tumor type. However, every patient is unique, so the actual number of treatment sessions may vary.
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How do I make an appointment?
For more information or to make an appointment, please contact Cheryl Savage, our Department of Radiation Medicine administrator, at savagech@gunet.georgetown.edu or 202-992-8786. As one of the first touchpoints for our patients and their families, our administrator provides support and valuable information about eligibility and insurance, what to expect, and how to navigate care, with quick coordination to the right specialists.
Meet our patients
Proton therapy and coordinated care bring late-stage breast cancer into remission.
In 2020, Tiffany Gannon was a highly successful professional at a consulting agency and a dog lover with two of her own when she started to notice subtle changes in her left breast’s shape and texture. Deeply concerned, Tiffany visited a local hospital where she was diagnosed with HER2-positive stage 3 breast cancer.
“My reaction was just, I have to jump into action, I have to take care of the problem,” Tiffany recalls.
Great-grandmother is Grateful for Proton Therapy
When Kathleen Norris was diagnosed with lung cancer in March, she went through several waves of emotion. First came extreme shock. She had gone to her local urgent care center thinking she might have bronchitis and was floored when an X-ray found a large mass on her left lung.
A proactive patient travels 400 miles for proton beam therapy at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
When it comes to radiation therapy, Randy Hemingway knows a lot more than most people. A former administrative director and dosimetrist in radiation oncology at MedStar Health, he was a proponent of bringing proton beam therapy to the system. Before and after that, he held a variety of positions in the field of radiation oncology, which provided him with a strong background and knowledge of all the innovations in the field.
Meet the Radiation Medicine team
Our team of physicians at MedStar Georgetown is made up of the D.C. area’s leading experts, who have specialized knowledge in numerous cancer types and are at the forefront of the latest advances in treatment.
We take a compassionate approach to cancer therapy, guided by the principle cura personalis, which means “care for the whole person.”
With multiple advanced cancer treatment options available under one roof, MedStar Georgetown is a leader in Radiation Medicine.
In addition, through our research engine, Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI- designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C. area, patients have access to clinical trials and breakthrough cancer treatments.
Our location
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Rd. NW
Washington, DC, 20007