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  1. > Proton Beam Therapy

Proton Beam Therapy Information for Providers

Will your patient benefit from proton therapy?

At Atrium Health Levine Cancer, we provide world-class cancer care, close to home. As the first and only Proton & Advanced Radiation Center in the Carolinas, we offer the region’s most advanced radiation treatments available for adult and pediatric patients.

Proton beam therapy is an extremely precise form of radiation that can achieve high cure rates with reduced toxicity for select patients with cancer. Our goal is to help you match your patients with the most effective therapy – whether that’s proton beam therapy or another advanced modality.

Clinical benefits and indications for proton therapy

Proton therapy delivers radiation with exceptional precision. A very thin “pencil” beam of protons targets the tumor from multiple angles, allowing for high-dose treatment while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and/or organs. This reduces the risk of toxicity and long-term side effects compared to conventional photon radiation.

Because of its precision, proton therapy is especially beneficial for patients with curable cancers and long-term survival expectations, where minimizing side effects is critical to quality of life. 

A patient may be a good candidates for proton therapy if they: 

  • Have non-metastatic malignant tumors near critical structures/organs, such as skull base and vertebral column tumors
  • Are at risk of severe toxicity from conventional radiation, such as localized unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Are pediatric patients, who face a much higher risk of secondary malignancies from conventional radiation exposure
  • Need reirradiation in a previously treated area, with curative intent

Consult with our proton therapy experts

Selecting appropriate patients for proton therapy requires careful consideration of the cancer type, location prognosis and other factors. To determine if proton therapy could be right for your patient, email our dedicated proton coordinator at ProtonTherapy@AdvocateHealth.org.

Why referring providers choose Atrium Health Levine Cancer

Our Proton & Advanced Radiation Center (PARC) is the newest chapter in our long-standing commitment to innovation and exceptional patient experience and outcomes. 

Providers choose to refer patients to our center because of our: 

  • Expertise across disciplines: Our radiation oncologists collaborate with other nationally -recognized experts from every facet of pediatric and adult care across Atrium Health. For example, a patient with a brain tumor might have a team that includes national leaders in radiation oncology, medical oncology, neurology and neurosurgery.
  • Research and innovation: Our oncology experts are at the forefront of treatment breakthroughs and novel therapies through active research and clinical trials fueled by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (one of only three NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the Carolinas).
  • Rigorous evaluation process: Once we receive a patient’s medical records, disease-specific radiation oncologist(s) conduct a thorough review, considering medical history, cancer stage, tumor location and overall health.  If proton therapy is appropriate, patients meet the care team, undergo review by the Multidisciplinary Proton Committee, and receive support with logistics, insurance, and next steps. If proton therapy isn’t optimal, our experts guide patients toward other advanced treatment options.
  • Precision treatment: We’re one of only a few centers in the nation using the combination of pencil-beam scanning, in-room CT guidance and surface guidance – enabling millimeter accuracy in treatment delivery. We also offer the full range of resources and services needed to safely and effectively treat adult and pediatric patients, including sedation/anesthesia services.
  • Patient and referring provider experience: Our dedicated proton coordinator serves as an ongoing point of contact exclusively for proton therapy patients and referring providers. This ensures timely communication and efficiency throughout the assessment and treatment process. 

What to expect after you refer a patient 


Our referral and patient evaluation process is designed to be collaborative, transparent and efficient. It includes: 

  • Initial consult with the referring provider: Our radiation oncologist will consult with you to discuss whether your patient may be a candidate for proton therapy. If your patient could benefit from proton therapy, we’ll explain our evaluation approach to assess your patient and the timeline you can expect for testing and treatment.
  • Initial consult with the patient: If proton therapy is deemed an appropriate treatment option, we’ll meet with the patient to review the proposed treatment plan, gather additional medical history, and begin logistical planning (e.g., travel, lodging, expenses and caregiver support).
  • Review by the Multidisciplinary Proton Committee: Our team – including oncologists, physicists and dosimetrists – assesses both the clinical benefit and technical feasibility of proton therapy for each patient. If another modality of radiation therapy is more appropriate, our expert team helps guide the patient accordingly.
  • Review of potential costs: Before treatment begins, we proactively review each patient’s insurance coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs for proton therapy. In the event of an insurance denial, our team offers resources and support to appeal the decision.
  • Ongoing partnership: We recognize you as your patient’s’ primary physicians and keep you informed throughout their patient’s care. You’ll receive updates at key milestones and can easily access patient records any time through Epic Care Everywhere. and our team is readily available to coordinate care and answer questions.
  • Localized follow-up care: After  treatment, we work closely with you to ensure a seamless transition back to your care. We provide recommendations to monitor your patient’s condition, such as how often to do imaging tests, and offer continued support for ongoing care.

What patients say about our Proton & Advanced Radiation Center

Patients often tell their referring providers how supported they felt throughout their care at our center. Making patients feel as comfortable as possible is a core value of our medical team and support staff. 

Here’s what sets our patient experience apart:

  • Care coordination: From the moment a patient is considered for proton beam therapy, our proton coordinator helps guide them through every step gathering medical records, scheduling appointments and coordinating treatment. Patients also have access to our Global Healthcare Services team for support with lodging, transportation and other logistics.
  • Patient-centered facility: Every aspect of our facility was intentionally designed to prioritize the patient and their experience. Features include patient-created artwork, uniquely configured treatment vaults, specialized pediatric spaces and streamlined care processes across services and teams.
  • Integrated supportive oncology services: At the PARC, supportive services – like music, art and massage – are integrated into treatment plans from the start. Many patients especially enjoy live music therapy to pass the time during treatment sessions.
  • Convenient location and amenities: Located in the heart of Charlotte, NC, the Proton & Advanced Radiation Center is nestled on the corner of Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and within walking distance of Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health’s award-winning flagship hospital. At the PARC, patients have access to complimentary valet parking, free on-site garage parking and all the amenities of Levine Cancer Institute, including restaurants and a coffee shop.

 

Frequently asked questions from medical providers

To assess if proton therapy is appropriate, providers need a complete medical history and all relevant records. For faster referrals and intake, please prepare to submit the following:

  • Progress notes: history and physical, including last 3 office notes
  • Discharge summary from any recent hospitalizations pertaining to diagnosis
  • Imaging reports: oncology related scans from original diagnosis through present to include pre- and post-op MRIs and most recent restaging scans (CT, PET & MRI)
  • CDs/DISCOM imaging corresponding to all imaging reports
    • Please send via powershare to Atrium Health (Carolinas Medical Center - the one with Atrium Logo) (preferred), or if not possible, please send CDs with images via overnight mail delivery to the address above
  • Prior radiation records (DISCOM dose files and treatment summary notes)
  • Pathology reports: all path reports pertaining to a patient’s current cancer diagnosis
  • Operative reports: all surgeries pertaining to a patient’s current cancer diagnosis
  • Chemotherapy roadmaps/flowsheets

Yes. Fueled by the innovation of our NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, we offer access to nationally leading cancer research and clinical trials.

Clinical trials specific to proton therapy will be available soon. We also include every patient treated with proton therapy in a prospective patient registry to track treatments, outcomes and quality. 

Learn more about clinical trials at Levine Cancer.
 

Advanced radiation treatments at Levine Cancer also include: 

  • Gamma Knife radiosurgery for brain tumors and some neurological conditions, like facial pain. 
  • Radiopharmaceuticals for prostate and neuroendocrine tumors. 
  • Brachytherapy, a type of internal radiation therapy for a wide array of tumorous cancers, including breast and prostate. 

Offering the full range of advanced radiation treatments enables our team to match each patient with the most effective options for them. 

 

It's still not clear whether proton therapy provides greater benefit for prostate cancer compared to other treatment options available, according to the American Society of Radiation Oncology. Most insurance companies consider proton therapy for prostate cancer experimental. Through our evaluation process, we identify the select patients with prostate cancer who will likely benefit from proton therapy.

You can schedule a consultation with one of our radiation oncologists. We’ll review the imaging you provide, discuss whether your patient could benefit from proton therapy and identify any underlying reasons that proton therapy wouldn't work. We’ll also do an initial review of the patient’s insurance coverage of proton therapy before they travel.

Proton therapy is covered by most insurance providers for many types of cancer. As part of our patient evaluation process, we help patients understand their insurance coverage for proton therapy and we communicate coverage to the referring providers. If insurance coverage is denied, we offer resources to help appeal for approval. Throughout the process, patients and referring providers will be kept up to date with any insurance coverage decisions.

Refer a patient

To discuss a patient with our radiation oncologists, call 980-442-3400 or email ProtonTherapy@AdvocateHealth.org. You can also submit a referral via Epic with the information noted below. We look forward to helping you provide the most effective treatment for your patient.  

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