On Oct. 30, 2019, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute established the McLaren Proton Therapy Center, one of only 28 proton therapy centers in the U.S. The most powerful and precise radiation oncology treatment available to treat cancer is provided at the McLaren Proton Therapy Center, located on the campus of the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Flint, Michigan.

As one of only 28 proton therapy centers in the United States, the McLaren Proton Therapy Center features leading treatment technology and expertise to deliver proton therapy with supreme precision. This advanced technology delivers higher doses of radiation to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue and organs, greatly lowering the risk of secondary cancer, reducing side effects, and resulting in strong cure rates.

Proton therapy is a noninvasive modality, and the actual beam of protons is only delivered for several minutes per session. Typically, the entire treatment experience, from entering the Proton Center to the completion of treatment, takes less than an hour. Depending on the specific case, patients typically receive these daily outpatient treatments for a number of weeks, with treatment plans varying based on tumor type, location and size. Because of proton therapy’s noninvasive nature, many patients report limited side effects, with most feeling well enough to continue on with their normal daily activities during the treatment period.