Why CHOP for Proton Therapy

The Roberts Proton Therapy Center was the first proton center in the mid-Atlantic region that was designed specifically to accommodate the needs of children with cancer and their families.

As a leader in childhood cancer treatment, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is specially equipped to meet the unique needs of children with cancer. Here are some advantages of choosing us for your child's proton therapy treatment:

  • Experience caring for children like yours. When it opened in 2010, ours was one of the first proton therapy centers. Since 2010, our team has treated more than 800 pediatric patients with proton therapy, from across the country and around the world.
  • Safe transition of care from there to here. Whether your home hospital is down the road, across the country, or across an ocean, our team will coordinate a safe, seamless transition to Children’s Hospital, keeping in regular contact with your home hospital. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable in Philadelphia, and offer you all the support available to make this phase of care as easy as possible. Patients traveling from outside of the United States have access to a comprehensive Global Patient Services team, which will help you through every stage of the process.
  • World-class experts. With access to the resources of two top-ranked health systems and cancer centers — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania — children receiving proton therapy here are cared for by an extensive team of experts in the field of medical and radiation oncology. When necessary, your child's cancer treatment team can consult with other world-renowned Children’s Hospital subspecialists at any time.
  • Team devoted to pediatric radiation oncology. Your child’s team will include pediatric oncologists, radiation oncologists, anesthesiologists, physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, radiation therapists, child life therapists and other medical professionals who understand the unique needs of children with cancer.
  • Focus on the child’s anesthesiology experience. We put a significant amount of focus on the experience of receiving daily anesthesia, which is a reality for many children undergoing proton therapy. To make the process as easy and comfortable as possible, each child has a private single room where they will receive and recover from anesthesia. These child-friendly spaces are colorful and comforting.
  • Convenience of care. The Roberts Proton Therapy Center is located on the same medical campus as Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, making transition to and from the Hospital simple. If your child will come to Children’s Hospital for proton therapy then return to their home hospital for the rest of their care, our team will work with you to make the transition to and from Philadelphia seamless.
  • Emotional support. Through our psychosocial services, including social work, child life and psychology, we help your family cope with your child's cancer diagnosis and treatment.
  • Advancement of the science of proton therapy. Our team is committed to making remarkable advances in the science and technique of proton therapy to benefit our patients. We are investigating new way to make proton therapy even more precise, further reducing the risk of damage to healthy tissue.

Teen before Proton Therapy

All About Proton Therapy

Prepare your child for the first day of treatment.

Child getting ready for Proton Therapy

The Proton Therapy Experience

If your child will get proton therapy, here's what you can expect.