The Need

It’s very likely that you have a relative, friend, neighbor or co-worker who has struggled with some kind of cancer. Perhaps you’ve experienced cancer yourself. On a visceral, gut level, we all “wish” that all forms of cancer would be eradicated quickly and permanently.

There are three basic ways to treat tumor based cancers:

  • Surgery

  • Systemic Therapies (Chemotherapy & Immunotherapy)

  • Radiation

Often times all three of these modalities are used to beat your cancer. Proton therapy offers the best radiation option available.

While remarkable medical advances have been (and are being) made, and many people have modified their lifestyles to avoid certain cancers, the sobering reality is that cancers remain major life-threatening health challenges.

PATIENTS SERVED

Patient populations within 25, 50, 75-mile radii and beyond are closely evaluated, serving as the primary service areas for a proton therapy center. The proposed Castle Pines Proton treatment center is a half hour drive to the center of Denver, and about twice that to Colorado Springs. As shown on the map, the population density within a 75-mile radius of the proposed Castle Pines Proton center is (4,819,960 people).

The demographics of the surrounding region also indicate that the effects of population aging will increase the annual number of cancer cases in the foreseeable future.

The number of new cancer cases per year in Colorado is estimated by the American Cancer Society to be 28,920 people.

Of that number, about 60% (17,352) are projected to utilize radiation therapy as part of their cancer battle treatment.

Though all patients would benefit by the use of Proton Therapy reducing the excess radiation on average by 60%, it is typically reserved for more difficult cases, about 20% of all radiation cases or (3,470) of those requiring radiation in the state of Colorado. A single treatment room PT center operating 16 hours a day can only see around 350 to 400 patients a year.

With no Proton Center in Colorado yet, the closest four Proton Therapy centers are located between an 8 and 12 hour drive from Castle Pines CO.

These facilities are :

Salt Lake UT- 381 miles - Driving duration: 8 hours & 33 minutes

Kansas City KC - 543 miles - Driving duration: 10 hours & 33 minutes

Oklahoma City -  490 miles - Driving duration: 11 hours & 43 minutes

Phoenix AZ - 577 miles - Driving duration: 12 hours & 18 minutes

Patient demand for proton therapy significantly exceeds the capacity of these existing centers. Add the fact that proton therapy is a growing trend in cancer care, and that there are many other medical applications for proton therapy, and it’s understandable why the Castle Pines Proton treatment center is being proposed.

Colorado Population

Regional Demographics

 

Interactive Map Of Castle Pines Region, Colorado

Several years from now, when the Castle Pines Proton treatment center is completed and operational, we anticipate that many patients will experience the positive life-changing, and possibly life-saving, results. That’s what really gives us the vision, inspiration, enthusiasm, motivation and perseverance to pursue this exciting new project. Life is a precious gift; we want to perpetuate it and improve the quality of living.