Work starts on £125m proton beam centre

GROUNDBREAKING development . . . Andrea Seal and Lucy Thomas at the start of building work for the new proton beam centre at The Christie

CANCER patients will soon be able to get revolutionary proton beam therapy as work starts at the UK’s first specialist centre at The Christie in Manchester.

A ground-breaking ceremony at hospital this week marked the start of construction of the £125 million centre, which should open in 2018.

Proton beam devices are far more accurate than traditional radiotherapy devices and can be used to destroy tumours surrounded by important healthy tissue - such as in the brain and in young people with growing organs - more precisely.

Proton beam radiotherapy is currently not available in the UK, and the NHS sends patients to America and Switzerland for treatment.

Christie patients Lucy Thomas (9) from Ramsbottom, and Andrea Seal (40), from Middleton, were both guest of honour at the event after receiving proton beam therapy overseas.

Lucy, from Ramsbottom, was six when she and her family travelled to Oklahoma, wheere they stayed for weeks while th treatment continued.

Dad Stuart said: “Though we received excellent care and treatment, it would have been easier if it had been available in the UK. We felt cut off from our family and friends just when we needed them most.”

Mum Caroline added: “It’s absolutely fantastic to know that proton beam therapy is finally coming to the UK, and particularly Manchester. It will give more children like Lucy the opportunity to have this form of treatment.”

A second proton beam therapy centre will open at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2018.