Don answered better than I. Discuss it with your radiation oncologist. I think there are some requirements to meet in order for the doctor to approve it, either at the proton center or your referring hospital, as well as for insurance, over the use of other therapy, like IMRT, and is a case by case decision. Mine was recommended by my RO, probably as a last resort, in the recurrence setting, so there were no other options having already done radiation 4x in the same location, two IMRT and two IORT, and the new recurrence was on the carotid artery, which has a dose limitation, including the spinal cord, even though resected the buds still needed to be radiated.

The Proton Center I went to is a private for profit entity only for Proton Therapy, but 5 major NYC hospitals just affiliated with them in September, 2013, for their use, and would have one of their RO's on premises once a week, so it was a hassle to get radiation one location, and chemo another location, 2 hrs away, which was supposed to be at my CCC, but chose to have chemo locally, which was easier, somewhat, and still had to pay someone to drive me everyday to a remote area in NJ for Proton, once a week chemo. Some are associated, in or nearby a major CCC. There are a total of 14 Proton Centers throughout the country now.

It's expensive, $7,151 a day, but Medicare covered it, and I have full Medicare coverage with a supplemental, If not, the 20% non coverage adds up, but what Medicare pays is probably half. They did have grants, but never needed to apply.

Tomorrow I see my Proton Radiologist for follow-up.