Download Expansion Project FAQ

Expansion Project Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Why is the expansion needed?
A:
The expansion will increase patient capacity by approximately 25 percent. The
technology upgrades will improve treatment efficiency and will enable more types of
cancer to be treated with proton therapy.
Q:
Why do you need to increase patient capacity?
A:
Since opening in 2006, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute has operated with the
maximum number of treatment slots available. Patients are treated from 6:30 a.m. to
11 p.m. each weekday. Demand for proton therapy is continuing to grow. To prepare for
future community needs, the facility requires an additional treatment room.
Q:
What, if any, impact will the expansion have on the cost of treatment?
A:
We do not expect any changes in treatment cost since it varies for each patient
depending on the type of tumor being treated.
Q:
What is pencil beam scanning?
A:
Pencil beam scanning is an advanced form of proton therapy delivery using a thin beam
of protons. Similar to the way one uses a pencil to color in a shape with back-and-forth
strokes, pencil beam scanning uses back-and-forth strokes calibrated to the exact shape,
size and depth of the treatment area. Pencil beam scanning will offer clinical advantages
for treating certain kinds of cancer.
Q:
What other proton therapy delivery forms are there?
A:
There are three forms of proton therapy delivery: double scattering, uniform scanning
and pencil beam scanning. Each form provides unique clinical advantages for different
types of tumors.
Q:
How many treatment rooms will the facility have?
A:
Once the expansion is completed, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute will have five
treatment rooms: four rotating gantries and one fixed beam room. The fixed beam room
is specifically designed to treat cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the eye. It is
one of four proton therapy facilities in the U.S. with this capability and the only one in
the Southeast.
Q:
How many accelerators will the facility have?
A:
Once the expansion is completed, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute will have two
proton accelerators: a cyclotron, which powers the original four treatment rooms, and a
new accelerator that will power the compact, single-room system.
Q:
What is an accelerator?
A:
An accelerator is the device used to speed up the protons so they can be used for
radiotherapy.
Q:
What is proton therapy?
A:
Proton therapy is a form of radiation therapy that uses protons, particles of an atom, to
deliver the optimal radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing exposure to
surrounding healthy tissue. This results in an effective cancer treatment that reduces the
risk of complications during and after treatment.