From New Hampshire to Alabama, more than 20 of the 38 proton therapy centers in the U.S. are scattered across the East coast. Out West, these cutting-edge cancer treatment facilities are relatively lacking in numbers and patients are at a geographic disadvantage when it comes to accessing treatment.
Meanwhile, many patients throughout the country also face barriers from insurance providers that refuse to cover the treatment, even for indications where evidence suggests protons could yield superior outcomes. This leaves many would-be proton candidates with no option but to receive conventional treatments, which may come with higher risk of side effects and long-term complications, particularly for complex cases.
