Ask an Expert: Proton Therapy in Wisconsin
William Hall, MD, radiation oncologist and Medical College of Wisconsin faculty member, answers common questions about proton therapy — now available through the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network in Wisconsin.
April 7, 2026
3 minute read
Adults and children in Wisconsin now have access to an advanced cancer treatment option closer to home: proton therapy. The Froedtert & MCW Clinical Cancer Center on the Froedtert Hospital campus is one of about 50 facilities nationwide to offer proton therapy. This precise radiation technology uses proton energy instead of the X-ray (photon) energy used in standard radiation therapy. Already proven effective through clinical trials, proton therapy can reduce side effects from the radiation dose that often affects healthy tissues surrounding a tumor.
Why is now the right time to bring proton therapy to Wisconsin?
This technology is important for treating children and adults who have cancer. Also, we anticipate the burden of cancer to rise as our population ages, and we want to continue meeting our patient’s needs. We are able to do this with comprehensive, evolving treatment options. Our sophisticated radiation therapy technology is essentially unmatched in the region, and proton therapy will improve outcomes in a meaningful way for children and for adults with certain types of cancer.
Is proton therapy better than other types of advanced radiation therapy?
It depends on the individual and their cancer. It requires years of training to understand patient-specific factors and the radiation therapy that will most effectively treat each person.
We offer many precision radiation therapy options, including photon-based MRI-guided radiation therapy, Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, TomoTherapy®, brachytherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. When proton therapy is the best choice for an individual, it will be fantastic to have this new option.
Can it be used with other types of treatment or for people who have had radiation therapy before?
Proton therapy can be used safely with other treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery. In patients who have had prior radiation therapy and experience a recurrence, proton therapy can be used with decreased radiation exposure to other tissues.There is a limit to the amount of radiation that areas of our body can tolerate, and protons can limit the dose affecting healthy tissues.
Why might proton therapy be a good choice for pediatric patients?
Children with cancer need special consideration. Any dose of radiation to their organs as they grow can impact development. For some children, it can be helpful to restrict the radiation dose by using proton therapy. Historically, families have had to travel out of state to access proton therapy for their children, which was not only inconvenient but also added to their cost burden. Collaborating with Children’s Wisconsin, we are excited to offer this state-of-the-art treatment in Wisconsin with radiation oncologists, Selim Firat, MD, and Ciani Ellison, MD, who treat pediatric and adult patients.
Why is this technology exciting, and how do you envision it evolving?
To accelerate treatment innovations and make meaningful progress in improving outcomes, we need sophisticated technologies. Proton therapy gives us a way to explore new ideas. For example, we may investigate leveraging the unique physical properties of protons to spare immune function so the immune system can better recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Another interesting feature we can test is giving radiation doses at different speeds and rates to see if it changes the way it locks onto cancer cells, while preserving the integrity of normal tissues.
Our physicians are leaders in radiation oncology and help shape cancer care standards around the world. We are excited to shape the future of proton therapy and improve outcomes for our patients through research.
