First Coast Oncology to offer next generation Proton Therapy

First Coast Oncology to offer next generation Proton Therapy

First Coast Oncology to be the first private practice in the Southeast to offer new therapy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ - Scot Ackerman, M.D., Medical Director, First Coast Oncology, Jacksonville, FL is pleased to announce the recent agreement for the placement of the Monarch250(TM) Proton Therapy System from Still River Systems, Inc, in Jacksonville, Florida.

First Coast Oncology will become the first private practice in the Southeast to add this state-of-the-art treatment modality to its comprehensive cancer center. The Monarch250, a unique compact system, will provide the same precise, non-invasive treatment advantages and capabilities as larger commercially available systems but at a reduced cost. Still River Systems and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have used advanced superconducting technology to develop the Monarch250 and make proton therapy treatments more practical for freestanding cancer centers and hospitals alike.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to develop with First Coast Oncology, the ability to enhance and expand their cancer treatment capabilities," said Marc Buntaine, CEO of Still River Systems. "The Monarch250 will answer the strong demand from the patient and clinical community for a precise, versatile and affordable proton therapy device."(1)

Proton therapy can deliver with high precision, a burst of radiation to malignant tissue while sparing the adjacent normal tissue, which can result in fewer side effects. Due to the high demand for proton therapy, larger proton centers are operating at capacity and are unable to meet the demand for treatment. First Coast Oncology's new proton therapy acquisition will not only provide patients in Jacksonville with additional access to highly beneficial proton therapy treatment, but also provide treatment to patients in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina.

"First Coast Oncology is committed to being on the cutting edge of technology," said Scot Ackerman, Medical Director of First Coast Oncology. "This strategic agreement ensures that our patient community will have greater availability to the latest cancer fighting technology."

Installation of the Monarch250 is expected to commence in early 2011 at First Coast Oncology's Mandarin location at 10881 San Jose Boulevard.

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About First Coast Oncology

The staff of First Coast Oncology consists of board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists, certified medical dosimetrists, a nuclear medicine technologist, oncology certified nurses, oncology social workers, and radiation therapists.

We offer convenient care at our state-of-the-art facilities throughout Northeast Florida. Our locations at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Mandarin and at Baptist Medical Center -- Nassau, offer the most advanced medical equipment and technology.

Our practice is dedicated to advancing the understanding, treatment, and prevention of cancer through research, advocacy, and community service. For more information, call 904-224-0667 or visit www.firstcoastoncology.com