What to Expect at the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center

Proton Therapy Treatment Process

It’s natural to feel a range of emotions when you are first diagnosed, but it’s important to remember there are resources and individuals to support you every step of the way. The Northwestern Medicine Proton Center is committed to providing patients with the best treatment we can to help ensure they can live a healthy, fulfilling life.

After you’ve had your consultation and any additional tests you may need, you will be scheduled to come to the center for a computed tomography simulation (CT) scan. You can expect your appointment to take up to two hours, including preparation time. Your radiation therapist will also use this time to educate you about the treatment process.

Creating a personalized treatment plan

You may have had a CT scan in the past to diagnose your tumor or for another medical reason, but this particular CT scan is necessary to gather images of your tumor and normal tissue so your doctor can “see” the tumor and pinpoint its exact location, size and shape. This CT scan is also used to determine how you should be positioned everyday for treatment. Custom devices are made in order to create a reproducible, comfortable treatment position.

Your medical team will use the CT images to create a personalized treatment plan specifically for you. The treatment plan will contain important details including the exact dose of protons you need to target your tumor with precision.

During Treatment Sessions

The entire treatment session can range from 15 minutes to over an hour. Since proton therapy is so precise, you must be in the specific position determined at the time of CT simulation to ensure the proton beam hits the target directly. Your Care Team will position you before each treatment using our robotic treatment table and X-ray positioning system. During the actual treatment, you will not feel or see the proton beam. You may hear some clicking sounds from the equipment around you. These sounds usually go unnoticed by patients after a few treatment sessions.

Ensuring your comfort

Proton therapy is a noninvasive treatment. There is no reported discomfort or sensation during the actual radiation treatments.

We’re dedicated to making your treatments as comfortable as possible for you.

Because there is no recovery time, you can return to your normal daily activities right after each treatment session. There is no need to stay overnight in a hospital or remain at the center after your treatment.

If there are side effects during or after treatment, they are generally minor and occur after a number of treatments. Depending on the location of your tumor, side effects may include: