 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Thanks for the update Don. I am glad that they are finally bringing more PBT centers on line.
It actually started at the Cyclotron in LBL's where protons were first used for medical treatment. It was not practical in a clinical environment and it has taken a while to get it to that point.
Patient throughput is fairly high and the treatment durations aren't anywhere near as long as IMRT or XRT. Plus one Cyclotron can provide protons to multiple treament suites - but it is a hell of an investment. Had it been more accessible, when I was Dx'd in 2002, I wouldn't have hesitated to strongly consider PBT.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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