On June 7, 2016, Provision CARES Proton Therapy celebrated its 1,000th patient to complete proton therapy treatment as part of their journey to defeat cancer. The 1000th patient marks an important milestone in the proton center’s development into a critical component of the comprehensive cancer campus at Dowell Springs and as a community resource in East Tennessee.
Provision first began treating patients with proton therapy on January 20, 2014, with one treatment room. Three patients underwent therapy on the first day of business. Today, we are treating more than 90 patients per day in three treatment rooms. Each patient closes out his or her round of treatment by ringing the Victory Bell in the proton therapy center lobby, part of Provision’s unique Culture of Care experience.
Overall, Provision has treated cancer affecting more than 50 sites in the body, including head, neck, lung, esophageal, endocrine, prostate, breast, brain, bladder, sarcoma, tongue, lymph nodes, sinuses, bladder, eye, and colon cancers, as well as pediatric cancers.
Patients have come to from more dozens of states and even numerous countries, including the Netherlands, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, and China. 34 percent of patients travel to Provision CARES Proton Therapy from out of town, making Tennessee home during their four-to-eight-week treatment, while they experience our local and regional hospitality. More than 10,000 hotel room nights have been contributed to the area since the center opened, greatly impacting the local and state economy.
Nearly 600 patients who graduated from treatment have now become Ambassadors—champions for Provision and proton therapy.
With 1,000 patients successfully treated, Provision has established its reputation for excellence in medical treatment with compassionate care. Since we’ve opened our doors, many area physicians have seen the benefits of proton therapy for their patients and continue to grow their support and involvement in our center. As a company, we feel humbled and fortunate to provide access to this proven treatment to more cancer patients.
Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which uses x-rays, protons deposit their energy in a specified location, treating the cancer and sparing the healthy cells. Provision features state-of-the-art technology including pencil beam scanning, which allows more precise targeting of the cancer, sophisticated treatment planning, and management software and innovations such as SpaceOAR gel, which further protects vulnerable organs from radiation in prostate cancer patients.
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