Another Exciting Milestone at the Andersen Building Project
Another exciting milestone has been marked for Mayo Clinic’s Proton Beam Therapy Program: the arrival of two of the largest and heaviest components of the new proton beam gantry. Each cylinder weighed between 15 and 16 tons and was carefully lowered into place inside the Andersen Building with the assistance of massive cranes.
So, why is this such a big deal? The gantry is the heart of proton therapy. It houses the radiation delivery system and rotates 360 degrees around the patient. Moving in this way allows doctors to aim highly targeted beams of radiation at tumors from multiple angles. The result: high doses of radiation are directed directly to the tumor, while sparing nearby healthy organs and tissues.
Dr. Nadia Laack, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic, explained it best: “By rotating around the patient, it allows us to precisely target tumors from multiple different angles, allowing us to give high doses of radiation to the tumor while sparing healthy organs and tissue that is nearby.”
This expansion means Mayo Clinic will soon be able to treat even more patients. Currently, the program cares for about 1,300 patients each year. Once complete, the new gantries will expand that capacity to 2,200 patients annually.
That commitment to patient care is already making an impact. Earlier this year, the Proton Beam Therapy Program celebrated treating its 10,000th patient since opening in 2015. With so few proton therapy options available in the region, this expansion is a critical step toward helping even more patients access this treatment.
This event was very meaningful, especially for those who have been on-site every day, working on this project from start to finish. “Watching this equipment being lowered into the gantries marks a major milestone for the project, knowing it will soon help save lives. Witnessing the passion of the Mayo staff that day was truly inspiring. It’s a proud moment for everyone involved and a powerful reminder of the impact this work will have on the future of patient care.” Knutson Senior Superintendent, Cody Grobe says.
