Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer Focus of April 25 Lecture

Note to Patients: The following news is posted for archival purposes only. Scripps is no longer accepting new patients for proton therapy.

Free lecture to explore various treatment options and side effects

Carl Rossi

San Diego’s first proton therapy center will open for patient care later this year, and San Diegans can learn about its benefits for treating prostate cancer at a free presentation Thursday, April 25, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

Limits damage to healthy surrounding tissue

Prostate cancer patients who want to minimize potential complications to urinary, bowel and sexual functions can explore how proton therapy and other treatment methods work. Proton therapy offers a more precise and aggressive approach to destroying tumors, compared to conventional X-ray radiation. Proton therapy uses a highly accurate beam of protons to destroy tumors, which significantly limits radiation exposure and damage to healthy surrounding tissue.

Leading prostate cancer care expert

The April 25 presentation will be led by Carl Rossi, Jr., MD, one of the world’s leading experts in proton therapy and medical director of Scripps Proton Therapy Center. Before joining Scripps, Dr. Rossi spent 20 years at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he treated more than 9,000 prostate cancer patients with proton therapy – more than any other physician in the world for that tumor site.


Attendees at the April 25 program will learn about the facts behind proton therapy, including who makes a good candidate and how to talk with your oncologist about the most appropriate treatment. Parking will be validated. Scripps La Jolla is located at 9888 Genesee Ave, La Jolla, Calif., 92037. To register, call 1-800-SCRIPPS.


Scripps Health will be the third health care system west of the Rockies to offer advanced proton therapy to cancer patients when the center opens for patient care later this year. Located in Mira Mesa, the center will be the eleventh proton therapy facility in the United States. It is being developed by Advanced Particle Therapy, LLC, of San Diego and will be operated by Scripps Health and Scripps Clinic.


Scripps Proton Therapy Center is part of a comprehensive cancer program at Scripps that has earned network accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.


Scripps provides comprehensive care at its five hospital campuses and its various outpatient facilities. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Care seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.


Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego, Calif.

Media Contact

Steve Carpowich
858-312-0328

Related tags: