Proton Therapy
A consortium of Michigan health systems has created a joint venture to bring an emerging cancer treatment to the state’s residents. The treatment, called proton beam therapy, is an innovative form of radiation treatment with potential to cause fewer side effects and less damage to healthy tissue compared to traditional radiation.
We believe a consortium approach is the right way to pursue this expensive but exciting new therapy.
- A consortium will ensure this technology will be available to all Michigan residents who need it, regardless of where they live or what hospital their insurance covers.
- Research has not shown proton beam therapy extends lives or improves quality of life. The consortium will ensure randomized, controlled clinical trials – the gold standard in cancer research – are conducted to prove definitively what benefit this therapy has.
- Building a treatment center will cost $160 million. The collaborative will ensure appropriate utilization and cost-management.
- Estimated projections show that Michigan will need one proton therapy unit for every 10 million people by 2020. That means the state can support one proton unit based on current population projections.
The people of Michigan should decide what’s best for Michiganders. The health systems involved in this consortium have been the trusted source of medical care for Michigan residents for many years. The patients we serve are our friends, our neighbors and our colleagues. Together, we will investigate the best new therapies for our own community and state.
We urge you to contact Gov. Jennifer Granholm and your state legislators and urge them to support this consortium approach to proton beam therapy.
