France: Institut Curie

A non-invasive therapy

The Proton Therapy Center at the Institut Curie in Orsay, near Paris, treats 320 people with cancer every year.

Proton therapy uses a specific type of radiation—protons —produced by a synchrocyclotron, the only device of its kind in France. Designed by Frédéric and Irène Joliot-Curie in the 1950s, it was adapted for medical use in 1991.

This precision therapy is particularly beneficial for children because it:

• preserves the organs and tissues near the tumor,
• minimizes side effects in bodies that are still growing.

In terms of quality of life, this therapy a far better choice than traditional treatment.

Caring for more people

Involved with the Institut Curie since 2004, the AREVA Foundation is contributing to the development and modernization of the proton therapy center in Orsay. By 2010, the facility will be able to house and care for 130 children thanks to:

• equipment upgrades,
• facility renovations.

In particular, AREVA has helped to equip the anesthesiology unit and recovery room reserved for children and to acquire a medical imaging system.