=e” we (NAPSA)—According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer (small-cell and non-small cell) is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Thefiveyear survival rate is just 15 percent among those diagnosed with the disease—but recent technological advances in treatment may changeall that. Proton Therapy About 30 to 50 percent of lung cancer patients have locally advanced tumors that require a combined treatment regimen that includes radiation therapy. Because the lungs are close to several critical structures in the body, it’s challenging to deliver an adequate dose of radiation to a cancerous tumor while sparing these nearby normal tissues. That’s where proton therapy has the advantage for many lung cancer patients. Proton therapy is an advanced type of radiation treatment that uses a beam of protons to deliver radiation directly to the tumor. Its precision and ability to reduce the risk of short- and long-term side effects appealed to Chuck Martinez. One Man’s Story In 2007, at the age of 37 and a year after surviving bladder cancer, Martinez received devastating news. A routine chest X-ray revealed a massin hisright lung, which turned out to be stage ITIA non-small-cell lung cancer. A team of cancer experts at MD Anderson told Martinez about proton therapy and the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center. Dr. Ritsuko Komaki, the director of MD Anderson’s Thoracic Radiation Oncology Program, explained how proton therapy precisely delivers high doses of powerful radiation directly to the tumor with less damage to nearby healthy organs. “Knowing that proton therapy ChuckMartinez, lung cancer survivor, benefited from proton therapy. would allow my team to target the radiation directly to the tumor in my lung and protect my esophagus, spine and heart was extremely encouraging and all I needed to hear,” said Martinez, who was concerned about side effects. “I knew I was going to receive the most advanced radiation treatment technology.” Dr. Komaki, who has treated many lung cancer patients with proton therapy, agrees that it is an excellent option for patients who have tumorslocated in sensitive areas of the body, like the lungor in the chest. “Proton therapy allows us to precisely target the radiation just where the patient needs it,” Dr. Komaki explained. “With the location of Chuck’s tumor, it wascritical to limit the radiation dose to surrounding areas of his body, especially since he was on concurrent chemotherapy.” Every weekday for about seven weeks, Martinez had chemother- apy at the MD Anderson main campus and proton therapy treatments at the nearby MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center. Hetolerated both therapies well and was able to maintain his weight during treatment. “The Proton Therapy Center is a state-of-the-art facility. I liked the fact that I was going to a place where they were experts in cancer and proton therapy,” he said. “The staff and therapists werefantastic.” Martinez has been cancer free for more than five years. A former drummerfor a cover band, hestill gets together with his old bandmates to play every now andthen. Mostof his time, however, revolves aroundhis wife, Lora, and their 9year-old daughter, Mia. He also now lives a healthier, more active lifestyle. He ran his first half marathon in 2011, rais- ing money for the charity CanCare, Inc., an organization whose volunteers regularly visit cancer patients. “It was one of the hardest and yet most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” said Martinez, who has now run several half marathons. “It is very meaningful for me to be here and to be able to share such an accomplishment with my wife after all we’ve been through.” Learn More For more information about the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center, visit MDAndersonProton.com or call toll free 1-866-632-4782.
