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Why Choose CHOP for Proton Therapy

Why Choose CHOP for Proton Therapy

We understand the needs of children with cancer and their families. The Roberts Proton Therapy Center was the first proton center in the mid-Atlantic region designed specifically with these needs in mind.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is a world leader in childhood cancer care. We know what can help comfort your child during treatment, like seeing familiar faces at each visit and spending time in calming spaces. Here are some reasons to choose us for your child's proton therapy treatment:

  • Extensive 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 nearly 1,000 pediatric patients using proton therapy, from across the country and around the world.
  • The 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 CHOP. We’ll ensure you’re comfortable in Philadelphia and offer you all the support available to make this phase of care as easy as possible. The entire time you are here, we'll keep in regular contact with your home hospital. 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 a team of experts in the field of medical and radiation oncology.
  • A team devoted to pediatric radiation oncology. Your child's team will include pediatric oncologists; radiation oncologists; anesthesiologists; dosimetrists, who are specialists in creating the therapy plan and radiation dose; nurses; radiation therapists, who administer the treatment prescribed by the radiation oncologist; and child life therapists.
  • Focus on the child’s anesthesiology experience. Many children undergoing proton therapy must receive daily anesthesia so that they are asleep during the treatment. We put a significant amount of focus on this experience. 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 just steps from the hospital in Philadelphia, so it is simple for you to get to and from treatment.
  • Emotional support. Our psychosocial services include social workers, child life therapists and psychologists. This team helps your family cope with your child's cancer diagnosis and treatment. They can explain what is happening in a way your child will understand.
  • Advancement of the science of proton therapy. Our team is committed to making game-changing advances in the science and technique of proton therapy. We are looking for new ways to make proton therapy even more precise, further reducing the risk of damage to healthy tissue.

If you are making a decision about this critical phase of your child’s treatment, we are here to answer all your questions and give you the support you need.

 

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