Brazil opens its first proton therapy cancer treatment center in Rio de Janeiro

Brazil will soon have its first proton therapy center for cancer treatment, with construction announced in Rio de Janeiro. The facility, named Centro de Protonterapia Mário Kroeff, will be the first of its kind in Brazil and potentially Latin America. It aims to offer advanced radiation treatment, particularly for pediatric cancer patients, to minimize damage to healthy tissues. Proton therapy uses protons, which deposit their energy precisely at the tumor site, unlike traditional radiation that can affect surrounding healthy organs. The high cost of equipment is a significant barrier to its widespread adoption.