Southwest Florida Proton has administered its first therapy treatment, becoming the first cancer center on Florida's west coast to offer the highly precise form of radiation therapy. The inaugural treatment, delivered on Dec. 30, represents a significant milestone for cancer care in the region, providing patients with access to advanced technology that previously required hours of travel to Florida's east coast or out of state. Proton therapy uses charged proton particles to target and destroy cancer cells with exceptional accuracy, often minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and reducing side effects.
“This opening reflects years of careful planning and collaboration, driven by a singular focus on improving patient care,” said Dr. Arie Dosoretz, CEO and managing partner of Southwest Florida Proton. “Our vision for Southwest Florida Proton has always been to serve as a beacon of hope, bringing together advanced technology and clinical expertise to deliver the highest level of cancer treatment.”
Dr. Shannon MacDonald, senior medical director at the center, said the launch brings world-class care closer to home for local patients. “With the launch of proton therapy in Estero, Southwest Florida patients now have access to one of the most advanced cancer-fighting technologies in the world right here at home,” she said. “Our goal is to give patients more options and the highest level of personalized care, close to where they live.”
Treatments are delivered using the IBA ProteusONE system, a state-of-the-art proton therapy platform. The center recently completed installation and formal acceptance of the system, enabling clinical teams to begin treating patients following extensive testing, calibration, and staff training.
Proton therapy is commonly recommended for pediatric cancers, curable brain tumors, and tumors of the skull base, spine, and eye, as well as select cases involving breast, esophageal, head and neck, liver, lung and prostate cancers, lymphomas, and sarcomas. Because protons can be programmed to stop at a precise depth within the body, patients often experience fewer complications compared with conventional photon radiation therapy.
IBA engineers will be permanently stationed at the Estero facility, working alongside the center’s leadership team, which includes Dosoretz, MacDonald, Associate Medical Director Dr. Todd Pezzi, Senior Director of Proton Medical Physics Mark Artz, Ph.D., and Director of Medical Dosimetry Linnae Campbell.
The Estero campus also offers complementary services through clinical partners. Advocate Radiation Oncology provides traditional photon-based radiation therapy on site, while Lee Health operates a diagnostic imaging center offering PET, CT and MRI services.
Patients interested in proton therapy can schedule consultations with MacDonald, Pezzi, and the oncology team, which include medical history reviews, imaging evaluations and discussions of available radiation treatment options. Physicians note that while proton therapy is not necessary for every patient, it can be critical for certain tumor types and for reducing long-term treatment effects.
Southwest Florida Proton is a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center in Estero featuring IBA’s ProteusONE system. The center’s board-certified physicians provide advanced care for a wide range of cancers, including prostate, head and neck, breast, brain, spine, esophageal, liver, lung, eye, pancreas, lymphomas, soft tissue sarcomas and pediatric cancers. Clinical partners include Advocate Radiation Oncology and Lee Health, which operates an on-site diagnostic imaging center.
