6-year-old, firefighter among first to receive proton beam therapy at Atrium Health Levine Cancer in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A 6-year-old boy and a Kings Mountain firefighter are the first patients to receive proton beam therapy at the new Atrium Health Levine Cancer Proton & Advanced Radiation Center in the Queen City.

The Charlotte location is the first and only facility in the Carolinas to offer this innovative and lifesaving treatment for those with complex tumors, health officials announced on Monday.

The new center is located on Atrium Health’s midtown Charlotte campus.

What is proton beam therapy?

Proton beam therapy is a highly precise form of radiation therapy that can be used to treat several types of cancers, especially those near critical organs, Atrium Health said.

It delivers a beam of protons that damage a tumor’s DNA and destroys cancer cells.

Proton beam therapy can also reduce the risk of long-term complications and secondary malignancies for children and adolescents, who are more sensitive to radiation exposure.

Less than 50 cancer centers offer proton beam therapy nationwide, officials said.

Who are the first patients receiving this therapy?

6-year-old Dakota Shuford and 26-year-old Hunter Pearson will be the first patients at Atrium Health Levine Cancer to receive this radiation therapy.

In 2021, Shuford was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that forms in soft tissue. Tumors were also found on his spine that caused him to lose the ability to walk.

Despite these unimaginable challenges, Atrium Health officials said Dakota and his family continue to find joy in each day.

Last year, Atrium Health officials said Pearson started having pain in his right leg. Months later, doctors diagnosed the Kings Mountain firefighter with Ewing sarcoma, which is a rare bone/soft tissue cancer.

Pearson remains hopeful because of the support of his fellow firefighters, loved ones, and care team, health officials said.

How is this new center possible?

This new center is part of a $69 million investment into the Charlotte region by Atrium Health, which includes Gamma Knife radiosurgery, another advanced form of radiation therapy for brain lesions. Health officials said the center houses a 110-ton proton accelerator unit called the cyclotron , which is three stories tall and serves as the powerhouse for proton beam therapy.

The unit was delivered and installed in December 2023, after a complex and meticulous process that involved transporting it across the country and lifting it by crane into the building.

“We are excited to offer proton beam-based clinical trials at this facility fueled by our National Cancer Institute-designated Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center,” Dr. Ruben Mesa said in a released statement. “We’ll not only be treating patients with this revolutionary therapy, but we’ll also research ways to revolutionize what’s possible for patients.”

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