Inova Mather Proton Therapy Center Celebrates Treatment of 1000th Patient

Falls Church, VA, March 6, 2024 – Inova Schar Cancer Institute’s Department of Advanced Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy is celebrating the treatment of the 1000^th patient with proton therapy, only four years after launching this service offering. Inova Schar Cancer is the only cancer center in Northern Virginia to offer proton therapy, providing patients with the latest radiation oncology advancements under one roof.

Proton therapy is a form of radiation treatment that offers precision treatment of tumors with reduced exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. For select patients, proton therapy can offer unique advantages over conventional forms of radiation therapy in terms of reducing toxicity and with the potential to enhance tumor control. 

Proton therapy may be used to eliminate tumors that have not spread to other parts of the body, reduce the risk that cancer will return after surgery or chemotherapy, shrink a tumor before surgery or treat benign conditions.

“Reaching the milestone of 1000 patients treated with proton therapy marks a significant achievement for our Inova Mather Proton Therapy Center and for the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Ashish Chawla, MD, Department Chair of Radiation Oncology at Inova Schar. “As this program continues to grow and develop, we are witnessing the transformative potential of proton therapy in improving outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients.”

Proton therapy at Inova is made possible by the generous donation of $20 million from Dr. Gary D. Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.

“Our family learned firsthand how important proton therapy can be, and we wanted to ensure this groundbreaking treatment was accessible for as many patients and families as possible,” said Ms. Co Mather. “Four years ago, we couldn’t have imagined the number of lives the Inova Mather Proton Therapy Center would change and the scope of impact it would have for the region. We are deeply grateful to be able to help Inova provide this critical resource for our Northern Virginia community.”

About Inova                                                               

We are Inova, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. With expertise and compassion, we partner with our patients to help them stay healthy. We treat illness, heal injury and look at a patient’s whole health to help them flourish.​ Through our expansive network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, and outpatient services, Inova provides care for more than one million unique patients every year.  Total patient visits exceed four million annually, demonstrating our ability to deliver the best clinical care and ensuring a seamless experience for all who rely on us for their healthcare needs. Consistently ranked and recognized as a national healthcare leader in safety, quality and patient experience, Inova’s world-class care is made possible by the strength and breadth of our network, our 24,000 team members, our technology and our innovation. Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and provides high-quality healthcare to every person in every community we are privileged to serve – regardless of ability to pay – every day of their life. More information about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.