MIAMI -- Radiation is a standard cancer treatment that is effective but also damaging to surrounding healthy tissue.

Now, Florida is among a handful of states offering a way to precisely target tumors through proton therapy.

This type of treatment produces a proton beam that enters and exits the body at a low level. Only the tumor gets intense treatment.

The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute is the only one of its kind in the state. There are only four others in the U.S., located in Loma Linda, Calif.; Boston; Bloomington, Ind.; and Houston.

"And it's a very cutting-edge technology. Protons offer a much higher level of precision and therefore fewer side effects for patients," said Stuart Klein of the UF Proton Therapy Institute.

The cost to build the center was $120 million.

"We'll be treating head and neck cancers, brain cancers, pediatric cancers and prostate, primarily," Klein said.

In a video news release, MD Anderson Cancer Center said that doctors are also aiming protons at lung cancer.

"I had about three years remission, and then it started growing again," said lung cancer patient Don Weeks.

Special plates are used to help shape and target the beam.

"Protons will also let us increase doses where the tumor is to higher levels than we can now, and maybe at the same time spare the normal tissues close by," said Dr. James Cox of MD Anderson Cancer Center.

NBC 6's Diana Gonzalez reported that proton therapy is covered by insurance. Length of treatment can vary from one day to seven weeks.

UF Center in Jacksonville is officially being dedicated Friday, but 10 patients are being treated there already.

For more information, visit www.floridaproton.org.