Proton Treatment Facility

Since 1995, TRIUMF has housed Canada's only clinical proton therapy centre for the treatment of ocular melanoma, a type of eye cancer. The cancer treatment centre at TRIUMF results from a collaboration between the BC Cancer Agency, UBC's Eye Care Centre and TRIUMF. The Mr. & Mrs. P.A. Woodward's Foundation provided funds to construct the patient treatment chair and the proton beam line equipment. Prior to the construction of this state of the art facility, Canadian patients had to go abroad to receive proton treatment. Now they can receive it here in Canada, and at a much lower cost.
Beam Path

The Beam Delivery System transports the proton beam from the main cyclotron into the Proton Treatment Facility. The beam is steered by magnets. There are many safety interlocks in this section. If any one of them detects that something is wrong, the beam is stopped instantaneously.

Treatment Chair

Proper alignment methods are a crucial step in the treatment process. A laser system is used initially as a rough guide to align the beam directly on the tumour. This is done by a chair which is controlled electronically by servo motors. The chair's position can be changed in six ways. Precise patient alignment with the beam is accomplished using a series of X-ray polaroid films.

patient receiving proton therapy

The patient is immobilized by way of a mask and a bite block, both custom made. Since the eye is not immobilized itself, it is very important that the patient not move the eye during treatment. To help the patient, the room lights are turned off and the patient is asked to stare at a small flashing light. The position of the eye is monitored during treatment by closed circuit television. If for any reason the patient moves the eye, the beam is stopped to avoid damage to other parts of the eye. If the eye being treated is blind, then the other eye can be used to fixate on the small flashing light instead.