August 10, 2015
Patients in the Pacific Northwest Now Have Access to Additional Treatment
for Ocular Melanoma
SCCA Proton Therapy Center Now has the Capability to Treat Ocular Tumors
SEATTLE, WA – For most the ability to see is often taken for granted. But for the thousands
diagnosed with ocular melanoma, the fear of losing their eyesight or even worse, their lives, is an
all too real possibility. Ocular melanoma is seen as a rare form of cancer, with approximately
two thousand new diagnoses per year. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy Center has
now made proton therapy accessible to patients with localized ocular melanoma.
“Investing in this technology will allow our staff and physicians to continue providing patients
the best treatment possible,” said Ramesh Rengan, MD PhD, Medical Director at SCCA Proton
Therapy, and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Washington
Medical Center, “Patients in the Pacific Northwest will now have access to additional treatment
options and will no longer have to travel long distances to receive advanced radiation therapy for
ocular tumors.”
Ocular melanoma is considered to be the most common cancer of the eye and occurs most often
in lightly pigmented individuals over the age of 50. Similar to melanoma of the skin, this cancer
is a type of tumor that develops from cells called melanocytes, responsible for making dark
pigment. In most cases, ocular melanoma develops slowly from the pigmented cells of the
choroid, but it can also develop from the pigmented cells of the iris and ciliary body.
Patients in the region faced with a diagnosis of ocular melanoma will now have the option of
treating their primary tumor using proton beam radiation at SCCA Proton Therapy Center. An
advanced form of radiation treatment, proton therapy delivers a targeted dose of radiation to kill
cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. When caring for patients with cancers of
the eye, physicians are tasked with preserving critical surrounding structures such as the cornea,
lens, retina, fovea, and optic nerves while treating the patient’s tumor. Proton therapy offers
advantages in treating these cancers by sparing sensitive structures and delivering an advanced
and highly precise form of radiation directly to the tumor site.
“Proton beam radiotherapy is a highly effective treatment for patients with ocular melanoma,”
says Alison Skalet, MD, an ophthalmologist from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
specializes in treating adult and pediatric patients with eye tumors, “I look forward to working
with the SCCA Proton Therapy Center to bring this therapy to patients in the Pacific Northwest.”
For more information on SCCA Proton Therapy, visit www.sccaprotontherapy.com.
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About Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy is a cancer treatment center that uses precisely
targeted radiation to treat cancer while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Proton
therapy is an advanced form of treatment that allows doctors to focus radiation directly into
the tumor, reducing the potential for side effects. Protons are beneficial in treating a broad
range of tumors, including those of the brain, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract,
head and neck, breast, lung, and prostate, as well as sarcomas and certain pediatric cancers .
A collaborative effort between Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, SCCA Proton Therapy unites
top physician experts in cancer from UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital. SCCA
Proton Therapy is located on UW Medicine's Northwest Hospital & Medical Center campus
and is the only proton therapy center in a seven-state region. For more information about
proton therapy, visit www.SCCAprotontherapy.com or follow SCCA Proton Therapy on
Twitter @SCCAProtons and Facebook.
Media Contact:
Stephany Rochon
Nyhus Communications for SCCA Proton Therapy
206-323-3733
SCCAProtonTherapy@nyhus.com