Evolution of Carbon Therapy ─ Gunma Heavy Ion Medical Center ─

Abstract

Gunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, GHMC, started cancer treatments with high energy carbon beams in March 2010. Aiming at promoting the wide spread of the carbon therapy, the grand design of the facility and a variety of R&D studies were conducted by the HIMAC group of National Institute of Radiological Sciences, NIRS, in collaboration with Gunma University. The design concepts of the facility include the high reliability, high efficiency, and low construction and operation cost. The success of the facility will open up a new era of the carbon therapy.