■ Cancer Update
Continued From Page 26 during treatment and afterwards . She completed chemotherapy , surgery and radiation and , with a focus on exercise and nutrition , her symptoms have started to improve . She is currently living and thriving without any evidence of cancer recurrence .
ProCure Proton Therapy Center ’ s New Clinical Affiliation
ProCure Proton Therapy Center has a new clinical affiliation with Hackensack Meridian Health .
“ We hope to work closely with Hackensack Meridian Health ’ s John Theurer Cancer Center to expand our clinical research studies to highlight the benefits of proton therapy ,” explains ProCure Proton Therapy Center President Tom Wang .
ProCure was the first to bring proton therapy to the tri-state region and remains the only center in New Jersey to offer Pencil Beam Scanning ( PBS ). PBS is the most advanced form of proton therapy , which utilizes an ultra-narrow proton beam that deposits a radiation dose more precisely within a tumor . PBS allows physicians to precisely “ paint ” the tumor with radiation , minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue and reducing the risk of side effects . Unlike conventional radiation therapy , proton therapy delivers particles to the body at lower energy levels , and releases its energy upon impact with the tumor , so there is no “ exit ” dose — reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues by more than 60 percent . This is an especially important benefit when a tumor is located near critical organs or structures such as the brain , heart or spinal cord . As proton therapy delivers highly targeted energy or pinpoint radiation with less toxicity , higher doses can be delivered to the tumor safely .
Proton therapy is just as effective as conventional radiation therapy with much less toxicity . Additionally , proton therapy is a treatment option for a wide range of cancers , including pediatric cancers ; brain tumors ; head and neck cancers ; breast cancer ; lung cancer ; prostate cancer ; re-irradiation of previously treated cancers ; sarcomas ; pancreatic cancers ; lymphomas ; and esophageal cancers .
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