Dr. James Cox Headlines Second Annual National Proton Conference In Washington, March 31-April 3

Over 250 Attendees Will Join Researchers, Clinicians and Administrators to Discuss Advantages of Proton Therapy, Developing New Centers and More

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Proton therapy experts from across America will gather at the second annual National Proton Conference, March 31-April 3, 2014, in Washington, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel-Pentagon City to discuss the benefits of proton therapy.

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Prominent proton physicians will present the latest information on treatment for breast, lung, pediatric, head and neck and prostate cancers. The challenges associated with developing a new proton therapy center, and the economics of proton therapy, also will take center stage.

Another highlight will be the results of a new, National Association for Proton Therapy/Dobson report on an in-depth "quality of life" survey of nearly 4,000 prostate cancer patients treated with proton therapy at multiple centers across the U.S. The results will be released for the first time at the conference.

Proton pioneer Dr. James Cox, professor and former chairman of radiation oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, will kick off the conference with a keynote speech about the state of proton therapy and "where we are headed."

Sponsored by the National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) and the Proton Therapy Consortium, the 3-day annual event will include presentations on the current state of proton therapy clinical trials and studies, the advantages of treating children with proton therapy; the economics of proton therapy; planning, developing and launching a proton therapy center; innovations in design, equipment and engineering; treating breast, head and neck cancers with proton therapy and more. 

Dr. Elise Berliner, Ph.D., Director of the Technology Assessment Program at the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), will speak about patient registries and developing evidence together with clinical care.

"Members of the proton community, the radiation oncology community, the news media and others interested in proton therapy will gain important insights from the experts assembled at NPC2014," says Leonard Arzt, Executive Director of the NAPT.

More information about the National Proton Conference, including registration information, is available at NPC2014.com or the NAPT web site at www.proton-therapy.org.

The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) is a non-profit organization supported by proton center members and is "The Voice of the Proton Community".  The NAPT promotes education and public awareness for the clinical benefits of proton beam radiation therapy.  Founded in 1990, NAPT is an advocate for the advancement and future access of proton therapy. It provides the number one website on proton therapy for patients, physicians, health care providers and the news media.  NAPT's site is www.proton-therapy.org.

The Proton Therapy Consortium is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to ensure availability and access to proton therapy for patients by educating regulators, payment providers, and policymakers on coverage issues. The Consortium promotes improving patient choice and access, facilitating appropriate use of proton therapy and encouraging cooperative research.  Its members are world-renowned cancer centers that provide life-saving treatment to patients throughout the United States.

SOURCE National Association for Proton Therapy