Shaping Tomorrow’s Cancer Care

Cone Health 1 of 5 Worldwide Creating Upright Photon Therapy

Cone Health | Pioneering Upright Photon Care

Cone Health is building one of the first upright photon therapy treatment systems in the world, helping to shape the future of cancer care.

Cone Health is one of only five health systems globally, and one of just two in the Americas, advancing this next‑generation technology. The new system is slated for completion in 2027 inside the Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Once the system is operational, Cone Health will lead in discovery through research determining how upright photon therapy may improve cancer care outcomes through new modes of positioning and precision targeting, while also evaluating the possibility that the system dramatically improves patient comfort during the treatment process.

Cone Health is one of five health systems worldwide to form the Upright Photon Alliance, dedicated to achieving breakthrough advancements in care for cancer patients. Founding members of the alliance include Cone Health, Mayo Clinic, Centre Léon Bérard (France), IHH Healthcare (Malaysia) and OncoRay (Germany). The alliance will advance research in partnership with Leo Cancer Care and Leo Cancer Care’s “Grace” – the world’s first upright photon therapy system.

Cone Health’s role in the future of cancer care 

Cone Health is helping to pioneer an entirely new way to deliver radiation therapy.  Cone Health will research how upright photon technology could help the communities it serves receive some of the most advanced cancer‑care available, with a focus on better outcomes and better experiences.

Exploring advantages of photon therapy in the upright position

Cone Health’s new upright system will enable physicians to use well‑established advanced photon therapy for cancer care, while exploring new ways to make it even more precise.

Through research, Cone Health will explore how upright photon therapy may: 

  • Deliver highly targeted radiation to tumors while reducing exposure to nearby healthy organs.
  • Make treatment more efficient by combining advanced vertical imaging at the treatment machine with precise positioning, so plans can be checked and adjusted more easily.
  • Support shorter, more focused treatment courses (such as stereotactic radiotherapy) for certain cancers, while studying whether upright positioning can help stabilize moving tumors like those in the lung.
  • Enhance the treatment of cancers in the prostate, breast, abdomen and neck regions.

Identifying patient experience benefits from upright cancer care

Treating patients in an upright, semi-seated position creates opportunities to learn how cancer care treatments can feel more natural and comfortable.

Cone Health is committed to researching how upright positioning may: 

  • Help patients feel more at ease, especially those who find it hard or painful to lie flat for long periods.
  • Support more stable organ positions, which may allow radiation to better avoid healthy tissue around the tumor.
  • Improve communication between patients and care teams, since patients can sit upright and relax more easily during treatment.

Our commitment to innovation and excellence in cancer care

Cone Health is investing in this groundbreaking technology because patients deserve the most advanced care close to home and the best‑possible experience when receiving care.  While the full benefits of upright photon therapy will be studied over time, Cone Health is committed to using this system to research new ways to improve accuracy, outcomes and comfort for the people we proudly serve across central North Carolina and beyond.

We invite you to check here often for updates on the progress of our upright photon therapy build and research. Learn more about Cone Health Cancer Care and clinical trials.

Upright photon therapy is not FDA approved and is being explored through research and clinical trials only at this time.

Your cancer care journey starts with a referral.

Talk with your primary care provider about referring you to a Cone Health Cancer Center. Need a primary care provider? You can find one here. 

For questions about our cancer services, please call 866-822-8740.

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