A national survey of prostate cancer patients shows that proton therapy side effects have less impact on quality of life compared to patients who choose other treatment options. The benefits of proton therapy for prostate cancer are well-documented by clinical research, and these patient-reported outcomes further verify the advantages.
The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) recently hosted the 2022 National Proton Conference – a gathering of physicians, administrators, physicists, and more from proton therapy facilities across the United States. Our very own Dr. James Gray, Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director of Provision CARES Proton Therapy Nashville, attended the conference. He serves on the NAPT Board of Directors and Physicians Advisory Committee, and after taking some time to digest all he learned, Dr. Gray is pleased to report that proton therapy is alive and well!
We sat down with Dr. Gray for some Q&A about the new technologies and emerging ideas the nation’s leading proton experts are talking about.
Each year on November 7th, we celebrate the birthday of one of the great minds of science, a pioneer in the medical physics world, and an inspiration for women around the world – Marie Curie.
The International Day of Medical Physics falls on Madame Curie’s birthday, as does another movement to recognize women who excel in a historically male-driven field – #WeWhoCurie. On this day, Provision CARES Proton Therapy wants to recognize our own medical physicists, who play a vital role in keeping patients safe, as well as all the amazing women who are part of our team.
Each year during the second week of October, healthcare facilities around the country recognize “Healthcare Security & Safety Week.” This is a chance to send our appreciation to all the professionals out there who work hard to make sure the facilities we rely on for our healthcare needs are safe and secure. This includes everything from the physical safety of patients and staff to virtual security of medical records and personal health information.
Provision is 100% committed to the health and safety of our patients and staff, as well as the security of their private information. Not only have we implemented robust safety policies and training, but we’ve even designated several staff members to serve on our dedicated Safety Committee.
What do you envision when you look at the sky and think of outer space?
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Merek Chertkow of Blue Origin, an aerospace company whose mission is to benefit the Earth by one day sending millions of people to live and work in space. (Side note: Just days after we spoke to him, Blue Origin made headlines by successfully completing New Shepard’s first human flight!)
The development and availability of COVID-19 vaccines has stirred up many questions, as well as some confusion. The influx of COVID vaccine information (and misinformation) can be even more daunting for cancer patients and survivors.
To help cancer patients better understand the vaccines, Provision CARES Proton Therapy hosted a special chat session with board-certified radiation oncologist Dr. James Gray, who gave a great presentation on “COVID-19 Vaccine and Cancer: Facts vs. Fiction.”
When it comes to treating cancer with radiation, many patients are concerned about the long-term effects the treatment will have on their heart. For cancers near this vital organ, traditional x-ray radiation can cause several cardiac health issues, including heart attacks, heart failure, and arrhythmias.1
Heart radiation from cancer treatment is especially worrisome for breast, lung, and esophageal cancer patients. If any part of the heart is exposed to radiation, the risk of heart disease is increased. Often, these cardiac side effects don’t appear until several years after the cancer treatment.
In this article, we’ll look at each of those cancers and identify the risk associated with radiation, as well as how proton therapy cancer treatment can help alleviate some of the concerns.
When it comes to organizing medical information, it’s important for cancer patients to be proactive. As you explore your treatment options, having easy access to health records will help make you a stronger self-advocate. You’ll have peace of mind and be more confident knowing you have all relevant medical information at your disposal.
The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) announced it will host its annual National Proton Conference through a virtual experience. The online event, which will take place on July 24, 2020, is a celebration of the organization’s 30-year anniversary of supporting access to proton therapy, one of the world’s most advanced cancer treatments.
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, one of the key components of the proton therapy system, the cyclotron, arrived at the site of Orlando’s new proton therapy center, which is under construction in the Hamlin development in Southwest Orange County. The center, located at 15775 New Independence Parkway in Winter Garden, Florida, is being developed by Provision Healthcare and will offer one of the most promising new cancer therapies available, proton therapy. It will also utilize one of the world’s most innovative proton therapy systems, the ProNova SC360 manufactured by ProNova Solutions, LLC in Maryville, Tennessee.