Third proton beam centre opens

A step change in the UK’s proton beam therapy capability has been signalled with the opening of a cancer centre in Northumber­land. 

Manager Chris Land with FACT founder Joanne Smith at the Bomarsund cent. Just over a year ago, there were no facilities operational and no alternative but to send patients to the US or Europe for costly and disruptive treatment.

But the arrival of three Rutherford proton beam therapy centres, in Wales, Berkshire and now at Bomarsund, Northumber­land – plus an NHS facility in Manchester – means a transformed landscape for advanced cancer care. 

The first prospective cohort of patients at the Rutherford Cancer Centre North East are already undergoing assessment for proton beam therapy.