Video Library | Northwestern Medicine Proton Center

Northwestern Medicine Proton Center Celebrating 10 Years of Leading-Edge Care

Celebrating our 10 year Anniversary of Providing Leading-Edge Care

When we opened our doors in 2010, our Center was the first such facility in Illinois and the ninth in the United States. We are amongst the leaders in both the national and international proton therapy community in providing patient care, conducting research, and training future generation of clinicians and other health care professionals.

What is Proton Therapy

Proton therapy is an advanced radiation treatment option. Due to its precise and focused beams of radiation, there is less risk of damage to surrounding tissues. The Northwestern Medicine Proton Center is the only proton therapy center in a 200-mile radius of Chicago offering state-of-the-art treatment with radiation therapy. Learn more about proton therapy and how it works.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

Proton therapy is a form of radiation therapy that offers more precise treatment compared to traditional radiation. Proton beams target the cancer tissue and lower the risk of damage to the surrounding, healthy tissue resulting in fewer side effects. Proton therapy is especially effective for prostate, breast, lung, brain and pediatric cancers. Learn more about who can proton benefit from proton therapy.

Northwestern Medicine Proton Center virtual tour

Proton Therapy Patient Testimonials

Hear patients share their cancer journeys and explain why proton therapy was the best treatment option for them. Thanks to the expert physicians, wonderful care team, and convenient location at the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center, many patients complete treatment with minimal side effects. Learn more about proton therapy.

Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors

Hazeezat Makinde’s brain tumor was in a sensitive location so proton therapy was the perfect treatment option for her because of its accuracy and precision. See why she said that the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center staff made her feel “like part of the family,” and learn why proton therapy could be the right choice for your brain tumor.

Proton Center patient Katie E. looking out a window in front of a banner with smiling faces on it.

Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer

As a breast cancer patient, Katie E. was looking for a treatment that would limit the amount of radiation to her lungs and heart. The Northwestern Medicine Proton Center team treated her cancer with state-of-the-art proton therapy with a successful outcome. Learn more about how proton therapy can help.

Proton Therapy for Head and Neck Tumors

As a professional singer recently diagnosed with tonsillar cancer, Tom Garrett was searching for an alternative treatment that would spare damage to his vocal chords and soft palate. That's when he discovered proton therapy and the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center. Learn more about the benefits of proton therapy.

Proton Center patient Sidney standing on a green golf course holding a golf club on a sunny day.

Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

One thing Sidney wasn't expecting in retirement was a prostate cancer diagnosis. Sidney did some research and found the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center in Warrenville, Illinois, which provides non-invasive proton radiation therapy as a way to treat prostate cancer. Learn more about the benefits of proton therapy.

Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

As a prostate cancer patient, Bill Innes was looking for a treatment that would spare the healthy tissue surrounding his tumor. The Northwestern Medicine Proton Center team treated his cancer with state-of-the-art proton therapy, resulting in a successful outcome with minimal side effects. Learn more about how proton therapy can help prostate cancer patients.

Proton Therapy for Pediatric Patients

Dylan Full was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His family chose proton therapy because of the reduced risk of harming healthy tissue, which is extremely important in pediatric patients. Learn more about why proton therapy is so effective and how it helps your kid be a kid again.

Proton Center Virtual Tour

The Northwestern Medicine Proton Center is the first and only proton therapy center in Illinois. Combining leading edge technology and a comprehensive team approach provides patients with the resources they need to get back to their everyday lives. Take a tour of the center to learn about proton radiation treatment and facility resources that bring world-class care closer to you. Learn more about proton therapy.

Watch Our Virtual Tour with Arabic Subtitles

The Proton Center is the only proton therapy center in Illinois. Take a tour of the center and learn about the proton radiation treatment process, healing environment, comprehensive cancer team and dedicated patient services team. Proton therapy is at the forefront of cancer treatment, and the Proton Center is here to help you through a challenging time with comfort and confidence.

Proton Therapy for Chordoma Tumors

Chordomas are a rare tumor of the bone. They are unique tumors, in that, patients are actually born with them. Chordomas are most commonly found in the spine, sacrum or in the skull base in a bone called the clivus. Proton therapy is used to treat chordoma tumors. Learn about chordomas along with the experience and expertise of the cancer specialist team who help manage the treatment of this rare type of tumor.

Proton Center patient Wendy sitting on the steps of a house and smiling with her arms crossed over her legs.

Proton Therapy for Ocular Melanoma (Eye Cancer)

Wendy had never worn prescription glasses or seen an eye doctor, but she often found herself squinting to see better. When her opthamologist was doing the exam, a mass blocking her central vision was found in her left eye. Wendy was determined to go with an eye-sparing treatment and chose proton therapy at the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center. Learn more about how proton therapy can help.

Innovative Cancer Care: The Vertical CT Scanner

Continuous innovation and improved outcomes are what we strive for at the Proton Center. We are the first U.S. proton center to incorporate a vertical CT scanner, which allows proton therapy planning images to be taken while a patient is in a seated position in a specially designed chair. Being in a seated position reduces motion in the chest and increases absolute lung volume, allowing for more precise imaging. Because of a robotic arm, the treatment chair is used not only for a CT scan, but also during proton therapy treatment. Treating a patient with proton therapy in a seated position helps reduce exposure to non-targeted sites within the body during treatment, especially for patients with lung cancer, lymphoma, esophageal cancer and certain head and neck tumors. Learn more about our dedication to innovation.

Patient Education Videos

Patient Orientation

Patient Education Video for CT Simulation Process

The CT Simulation Process

Proton Center Treatment Planning Session educational video

Treatment Planning Process

Proton Center Prostate Patient Drinking Instructions.

Drinking Instructions for Patients Undergoing Prostate Treatment

A pediatric proton therapy patient is helped onto the scan bed by two nurses.

"What to Expect" Pediatric Video

Northwestern Medicine Proton Center

Learn more about the Proton Therapy Center

Patient Education Videos

Post Treatment Follow-up Appointment Forms