The invention relates to treatment of solid cancers. More particularly, the invention relates to a combined rotation/raster method, referred to as multi-field charged particle cancer therapy. The system uses a fixed orientation proton source relative to a rotating patient to yield tumor irradiation from multiple directions. The system combines layer-wise tumor irradiation from many directions with controlled energy proton irradiation to deliver peak proton beam energy within a selected tumor volume or irradiated slice. Optionally, the selected tumor volume for irradiation from a given angle is a distal portion of the tumor. In this manner ingress Bragg peak energy is circumferentially spread about the tumor minimizing damage to healthy tissue and peak proton energy is efficiently, accurately, and precisely delivered to the tumor.