The University of Alabama at Birmingham on Jan. 13 opened a proton therapy facility providing treatment for spine and brain tumors.
Three things to know:
1. Proton International at UAB is the first proton therapy center in Alabama and only the 36th in the U.S., according to UAB.
2. Proton beam therapy treats tumors of the spine, brain and neck. It increases the precision of radiation therapy with less toxicity and side effects on patients.
3. UAB physicians will begin consultations in the next two weeks, with the first treatments set for the end of February.