Exciting News About the New Mayo Clinic Proton Facility
“Mayo officials announced Thursday that patient and philanthropist Richard O. Jacobson is contributing $100 million that will be used to help establish the clinic’s Proton beam therapy program. The program will include new facilities on Mayo’s Rochester and Phoenix campuses. The $200 million Rochester facility will be named in Jacobson’s honor.
Mayo says proton beam therapy is an advance over traditional radiation therapy for some cancers because it’s more precisely targeted, allowing for higher doses with fewer adverse effects.”
This is exactly the kind of news that the entire Proton community needs. Recognition by the leadership in the great American medical community that Protons are here to stay and will be a great boon to future health of all as more and more of the medical giants recognize the value of the Proton.
I still marvel at the “head in the sand” view of some Urologists and Radiologists who are stuck on surgery and IMRT, Brachytherapy and the like. I assume that this group is having enough success to continue following these procedures while ignoring the proton. Too bad since their “oath” should insure that they know what is available and what it does, so “we” the public can choose the best possible path to a cure for Cancer on our terms, not theirs.
Folks, there are lots of men and women who are not even talking about the Prostate, they are aware that the proton has many applications and is the least destructive in the area of ‘unintended consequences.” Those consequences would be the X-rays going through the body with their unstoppable characteristic, while the Proton continues to utilize the “Bragg Peak” for reduced impact on the person treated.
I already wish that the Proton could be used for all cancers and I feel fortunate that Loma Linda had this therapy available when I needed the Proton for Prostate cancer in 1999.
Comment by Phil Abramowitz
If proton therapy is that superior why are articles comparing it to Tomotherapy hesitant to state that it is superior?. Also,most doctors I have spoke to recommend tried and true surgery for PC. Why?
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 12:39 am
Comment by Jay Rolls
Phil – What we are finding is that it’s no more complicated than simply following the money. Your local urologist makes money off most treatments, but does not benefit from a referral to one of the nation’s ten proton therapy centers. Hence patients tend not to learn about it. Jay
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Comment by Jim Tuggey
Our web site clearly states that X-Rays go through the body and Protons do not. This is a proven fact but does not seem to overwhelm the ethics of those who wish to sell something else. The truth of our position has just been verified by The Mayo Clinic.
That’s where I stand. There are many new names and new techniques for using X-rays but X-rays are X-rays and they are unstoppable.
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:40 pm