Northwell and ProCure NJ establish clinical affiliation to offer advanced proton beam cancer therapy

Radiation oncologists from the Northwell Health Cancer Institute now have access to this important cancer fighting tool and will assist patients in determining the treatment option most appropriate for them. Anuj Goenka, MD, the director of proton services for Northwell, and Rajiv Sharma, MD, a specialist in pediatric radiation oncology, will coordinate the care of Northwell Health patients at ProCure NJ. 

"It can be quite challenging to navigate the complex world of oncology, specifically radiation oncology, in which there are so many treatment options available," said Dr. Goenka. "We are excited to now offer the full spectrum of radiotherapy options here at Northwell. Our cancer team has the clinical expertise and tools to help patients make the best decisions for their care."

"Northwell's affiliation with ProCure NJ to treat our patients with advanced proton therapy means that cancer care is coordinated by the same team of physicians that manage patients' entire course of treatment," said Louis Potters, MD, chair of radiation medicine at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute. "As a result, there is no need for patients and their families to search for and establish care outside of Northwell Health. With the addition of proton therapy, we now offer every major radiation therapy option currently available, allowing our physicians to personalize treatment for all our patients."

ProCure NJ was the first to bring proton therapy to the tri-state region. Proton therapy is a precise form of external-beam radiation treatment that utilizes protons to target tumors instead of photons (X-rays). The important distinction between the two is that after the protons travel through the patient and reach the tumor, they stop, so there is no exit dose. Protons limit the amount of radiation exposure healthy tissue and organs surrounding the tumor receive, thereby, reducing the risk of side effects and improving a patient's quality of life. Proton therapy is a treatment option for a wide range of cancers, including:

• Childhood cancers
• Brain tumors
• Head and Neck cancers
• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Re-irradiation of previously treated cancers
• Sarcomas
• Pancreatic cancers
• Lymphomas
• Esophageal cancers

ProCure NJ is the only center to offer Pencil Beam Scanning ("PBS") in the New York metro area. PBS is the most advanced form of proton therapy which utilizes an ultra-narrow proton beam that deposits radiation dose more precisely within a tumor.  It allows physicians to precisely "paint" the tumor with radiation, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue and reducing the risk of side effects. 

"It has always been our mission to make proton therapy accessible to as many patients as possible," said Dr. Brian Chon, medical director at ProCure NJ. "Our clinical affiliation with Northwell Health allows us to share access to this cutting-edge treatment and takes us another step closer to continuing and fulfilling our mission."

To schedule an appointment with a Northwell radiation oncologist, call 855-927-6622.

To learn more about proton therapy at ProCure NJ, visit www.procure.com/nj

About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, more than 650 outpatient facilities and nearly 15,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 66,000 employees – 15,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.

About ProCure Proton Therapy Center (ProCure NJ)
ProCure Proton Therapy Center located in Somerset, NJ opened in March 2012 and was the 10^th proton treatment facility in the nation and the first in the NY/NJ tri-state region.  ProCure NJ has treated over 3,000 patients and offers access to innovative clinical trials for breast, head & neck, lung GI, prostate and pediatric cancers.  ProCure NJ is the only proton therapy center in the NY/NJ metro area equipped with Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS), the most advanced proton therapy technology available today, reflecting our commitment to continually advance cancer treatment options.  For more information, visit www.procure.com/nj

Contacts: Jason Molinet, Northwell Health
516-321-6705/[email protected]

Lisa A. Jones, ProCure Proton Therapy Center
732-357-2609/[email protected]  

SOURCE Northwell Health

Related Links

https://www.northwell.edu