What is the average cost of proton therapy?

What is the average cost of proton therapy?

Proton therapy costs range from about $30,000 to $120,000. In contrast, a course of treatment with radiosurgery costs about $8,000-$12,000, Heron said. IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) costs about $15,000.

Does insurance cover proton therapy?

Proton therapy is covered in the United States by Medicare and many insurance providers. MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center accepts several major insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Our patient access specialists can work with your insurance carrier to define your benefits.

Where is proton therapy available in the US?

Where to get PT?

Country	City	Institution Name
USA	San Fransisco, CA	UCSF (UC Davis)
USA	Scottsdale, AZ	Mayo Clinic Hospital Scottsdale
USA	Somerset, NJ	ProCure Proton Therapy Center
USA	Seattle, WA	Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center

Does Mayo Clinic have proton therapy?

The Mayo Clinic Proton Beam Therapy Program uses the latest form of proton beam therapy — pencil beam scanning. This advance allows Mayo radiation oncologists to deliver higher doses of radiation to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Mayo Clinic offers proton beam therapy in Arizona and Minnesota.

Why is proton therapy not covered by insurance?

When Your Insurance Company Denies Proton Beam Therapy They do it because a patient needs an effective method of killing or shrinking a tumor. In other words, this type of cancer therapy is recommended only when it is essential. Sadly, insurers sometimes deny coverage of proton beam therapy.

Who is a candidate for proton therapy?

Particularly good candidates for proton therapy are patients with solid tumors near sensitive organs, such as brain, breast and lung cancers. While, for recurrent, pediatric and ocular cancers, proton radiation is viewed as the standard of care.

Is proton therapy expensive?

The lifetime costs associated with proton therapy for prostate cancer approach $73,000, compared with less than $42,000 for intensity-modulated radiation therapy, (IMRT), according to a 2008 report from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review.

How long does a proton therapy session last?

Each proton therapy session lasts about 30 minutes, and you can expect to be at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center for about one hour total for each session. Most people receive treatment five days a week for several weeks. Learn more about what to expect during proton therapy.

What is the difference between proton therapy and radiation therapy?

Traditional radiation delivers x-rays, or beams of photons, to the tumor and beyond it. This can damage nearby healthy tissues and can cause significant side effects. By contrast, proton therapy delivers a beam of proton particles that stops at the tumor, so it’s less likely to damage nearby healthy tissues.

Does Sloan Kettering have proton therapy?

Proton therapy is most commonly used at MSK to treat head and neck cancer and pediatric cancers. We also are using it increasingly to treat spine tumors, breast cancer, sarcoma, brain tumors, and prostate cancer.

What are the disadvantages of proton therapy?

Proton Therapy Side Effects Side effects can develop gradually after treatment, and might include: Sore, reddened skin around the treatment area that can look and feel like a sunburn. Hair loss in the treatment area. Tiredness or low energy.

How do you qualify for proton therapy?