- What is Proton Therapy?
- Cancers Treated
- About Us
- News & Information
- For Patients & Families
Executive Director Message
December 2019
We are capping off the decade with a commencement – the start of patient treatments in our compact proton therapy gantry, Proteus®ONE. This singular event is the culmination of three years of planning, constructing, installing and commissioning. It has been made possible through the efforts of a large team of highly trained men and women from many organizations. I’d like to acknowledge, thank, and congratulate all who were involved in this achievement. Vendors who planned and built the 10,000-sq.-ft. expansion are Walker Architects, Inc., and Gilbane Building Company. The proton therapy system was manufactured, installed and commissioned by IBA. The project was managed by the University of Florida Planning, Design & Construction Division. Special thanks to our staff members Bradlee Robbert, director of operations, and Jason Smith, director of facilities, who managed day-to-day progress of the project and our medical physics team members who managed the commissioning of our newest proton therapy device.
This monumental effort demonstrates the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute’s long-term commitment to help people to be cured of cancer so they can go on to live life to the fullest.
Stuart L. Klein
Executive Director
Patient Treatments Begin in Proteus®ONE
December 2019
The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute began treating patients this month in the new, single-room proton therapy system – known as the Proteus®ONE manufactured by IBA – that was installed last fall. It is the centerpiece of a multiphase $39 million expansion and upgrade project started in 2016 that improves treatment efficiency and technology.
The 10,000-square-foot expansion includes both an accelerator, used to speed up the protons, and a treatment gantry equipped with pencil beam scanning – an advanced delivery technique. The facility now has five treatment rooms – four gantries and one fixed beam room – and two accelerators used to speed up the protons – a synchrocyclotron dedicated to the new treatment room and a cyclotron that powers the original four treatment rooms.
Phase 3 will begin soon and involves the installation of a dedicated pencil beam scanning nozzle in one original gantry. Once completed, estimated in 2021, the Institute will have all five treatment rooms in operation and the ability to treat 25 percent more patients.
The addition of pencil beam scanning enables the treatment of more types of cancer using a thin beam of protons that is steered one layer at a time to conform to the exact shape, size and depth of the treatment area. The Institute has one of the most versatile proton therapy systems in the world. Each delivery technique – double scattering and pencil beam scanning – enables physicians to use the optimal treatment delivery customized for each patient.
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses protons rather than traditional X-rays. It targets tumors and cancer cells more precisely. This means less damage to surrounding tissue which results in a lower risk of side effects and a better quality of life during and after cancer treatment.
The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is the regional resource for proton therapy. It has been open in Jacksonville since 2006 and has delivered 288,000 proton treatments to more than 8,500 cancer patients from Jacksonville and 33 countries.
Steven Fitzgerald: Patient One in Proteus®ONE
December 2019
Steven Fitzgerald is optimistic. He’s feeling pretty great and pretty lucky, so far. As of December 5, he’s halfway through a course of proton therapy, delivered with pencil beam scanning at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville to put an end to a stubborn brain tumor.
His craniopharyngioma was first diagnosed in 2014 and treated with surgery near his home in New York. At that time, his physician said there was a chance the tumor could grow back. Steven researched treatment options and learned that the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Florida, has excellent success rates treating this type of tumor. Taking matters into his own hands, he moved to Ocala, Florida, in October 2015 with his wife and newborn daughter to be near the Institute should the tumor recur. His parents moved to Palm Coast, Florida, to be nearby, too.
In August, Steven began experiencing symptoms, including vision loss. He immediately went into surgery at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, to remove the tumor that was pressing on his optic nerve. After a short recovery period, he started proton therapy in Jacksonville in November, commuting from his parents’ home for daily treatment. On the weekends he goes home to Ocala to see his wife and now 4-year-old daughter.
On December 9th, Steven was the first patient to be treated in the Institute’s new gantry – a Proteus®ONE single-room proton therapy system installed in a 10,000-sq.-ft. expansion of the facility. He is scheduled to complete his course of proton therapy on December 26 with a high degree of confidence and hope that the tumor never returns.
The Lastinger Family Foundation Creates Endowment for Pediatric Care
December 2019
An exceptional gift from The Lastinger Family Foundation of St. Augustine, FL, has created the Lastinger Family Foundation Endowment for Pediatric Care at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute.
The fund will provide support for the care of pediatric patients and their families at the Institute. Support generated by this endowment will help our pediatric patients and their families in many ways, but in particular, through the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute’s Pediatric and Child Life Program.
Mr. Allen and Mrs. Delores Lastinger, Officers of the Lastinger Family Foundation, were motivated to make a gift to help our youngest patients when they observed members of our pediatric team working with children and their families. Our staff is challenged daily to help pediatric patients and their families cope with treatment and the multitude of circumstances that a diagnosis of cancer can create. Our team knows that battling cancer at a young age extends to the entire family, and that families who have a child undergoing treatment may have economic challenges, logistical issues, difficulties with scheduling tutoring, and may even have to consider relocating for several weeks in order to secure the best treatment possible. We strive to provide support for our families that allows both the patient and their family to focus on treatment.
Private philanthropy is vital to the services provided by UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, especially services that create special moments and memories for patients and families. “This very generous gift from the Lastinger Family Foundation will truly advance and support our work with our pediatric patients,” says Executive Director Stuart Klein. “We are incredibly grateful to Allen, Delores, and the Lastinger Family Foundation for their endorsement of our program.”
IJPT Indexed in PubMed
December 2019
The official journal of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG), the International Journal of Particle Therapy, is now indexed in PubMed Central, beginning with the Winter 2016 Carbon Ion Special Issue. Launched in 2014, the journal’s mission is to provide a preferred venue for disseminating the most up-to-date research in proton, light-ion and heavy charged-particle therapy.
PTCOG is the non-profit, worldwide organization of scientists and professionals interested in proton, light-ion and heavy charged-particle radiotherapy. The mission of PTCOG is to promote science, technology and practical clinical application of particle therapy through continuing education, international conferences and scientific meetings, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment of cancer to the highest possible standards in radiation therapy.
PubMed Central is a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM).
“We are extremely proud of IJPT’s achievements thus far,” said Nancy Mendenhall, MD, FASTRO, editor-in-chief of the IJPT. “In particular, our acceptance by the National Library of Medicine – which utilizes a meticulous selection process examining our scientific and editorial quality and impact – reflects our important role in the overall advancement of particle therapy research.”
Since its founding, IJPT has received manuscripts from nearly 300 prominent radiation oncologists, physicists, and dosimetrists from 200 institutions around the world. IJPT is a quarterly, open access journal that does not charge any article submission or processing fees. Articles are also digitally archived by Scopus, Portico, J-Gate, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, and the Directory of Open Access Journals.
Visit https://www.ptcog.ch/ for more information on the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group. Visit https://theijpt.org/ to view all issues of IJPT and for more information on the journal.
Executive Director Message
November 2019
Thank you to everyone who has called or emailed your elected representatives in Congress to speak up for proton therapy. While we will not know the outcome for several weeks, we know that we are doing everything possible to fight for patient access to proton therapy.
We are nearing completion of our expansion project, and expect to begin treating patients in our new treatment room in early December. It is equipped with the latest pencil beam scanning and will be the second room we bring online with this technology. Once the new room is operational, our plans are to retrofit our blue gantry room with pencil beam scanning beginning early next year, eventually making this form of treatment available in three treatment rooms. When our expansion and upgrade project is complete, we will have a total of five treatment rooms: four gantries and one fixed beam. These additions and improvements will enhance patient care and lead to high quality outcomes for more patients.
Stuart L. Klein
Executive Director
After Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer, What’s Next?
November 2019
What do men who treated their prostate cancer with proton therapy do once they return home? They party.
In the fall of 2013, less than two years after finishing his proton therapy in Jacksonville, a South Carolina UF Health Proton Therapy Institute alumnus realized he knew of several other proton alumni who lived within a short drive of his home. So he and his wife decided to host a small local get-together. To be exact, they invited ten other local couples to their home for some proton-themed fun, food, adult beverages, and camaraderie.
The host was Ron Nelson, author of the book PROTONS versus Prostate Cancer: EXPOSED, over fifty articles for The After Proton Blog, and a frequent speaker at the Institute’s prostate cancer clinics. Recalling the 2013 proton party, Ron said, “It felt like a little taste of what we all appreciated so much while being treated in Jacksonville. Nothing quite compares with that feeling or the unique connection we developed with each other, having walked the same path.”
Ron continued, “The party was actually a completely uncharacteristic thing for me to do. I’ve never been a party person, rarely went to them and certainly never hosted one. I’m still not exactly sure why, but it somehow seemed like the thing to do. So we did.”
Each year since then Ron and Lucy have continued what has become a tradition of hosting a local annual get-together for prostate cancer survivors treated with proton therapy. The mission is to provide a local venue for proton alumni to meet, reunite, and celebrate their good fortune together. “We rekindle our connection,” said Ron. “Even a strong bond needs nurturing.”
Ron calls this annual event “Empty, Drink, & Be Merry,” an inside reference that only prostate cancer patients will understand and appreciate. And he is steadfast that it’s strictly a party—not a fundraiser, support group, or educational forum. Ron and Lucy provide food and beverages, and each year Ron devises a proton-themed game with “fabulous prizes donated by the Institute,” where most of the men were treated. The coveted grand prize is a well-guarded secret, and always a big hit.
Ron and Lucy make a concerted effort to be inclusive. Although most of their guests were treated here at the Institute, a few were treated elsewhere. And while almost all the men are prostate cancer survivors, guests have occasionally included survivors of other cancers treated with proton therapy. The guest list has even included men yet to be treated, possibly still undecided about how to proceed, and interested in hearing more about proton therapy from those who know.
“It’s been an amazing ride. Year after year, word has spread, and our guest list has grown beyond anything Lucy or I ever imagined. This year, for our seventh annual Empty, Drink, & Be Merry celebration there were over sixty of us! Lucy and I are honored that so many survivors have come to our home,” said Ron.
And Ron’s little proton party is no longer strictly local. “Some drive several hours within South Carolina, and we’ve even had guests from North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida who stay overnight in a hotel just so they can celebrate with this group of amazing people,” said Ron. “UF Proton deserves a lot of credit for instilling such patient unity, and we celebrate them as well as our good fortune in discovering proton therapy.”
What does all this prove? “It’s simple,” says Ron. “Proton people are happy people who like to party together!” That sums it up nicely.
Contact Ron at Ron@ProtonsExposed.com to request an invitation to the 2020 Empty, Drink, & Be Merry celebration and become part of this annual fall gathering of proton / prostate cancer survivors.
Boy from Norway Returns for Victory Lap
November 2019
Dr. Indelicato and Theodor Lonrusten Midttun
Theodor Lonrusten Midttun of Norway was just 3 years old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Five years later, he received the “all clear,” and with his parents and sisters returned to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville to celebrate.
His father Teddy said, “we promised each other 5 years ago, if everything went good, to go back to Florida and do all the good things we experienced, without the cancer clouds and worries hanging over us.”
Happily, they received good news in August and made the journey back in September. Theodor’s parents said Jacksonville made a huge impact on the family during the time they were here for proton therapy. His father Teddy credits the “American spirit, humanity and professional attitude” that gave them hope and strength to get through the hard times. “People care in a way that was not too touchy, but was encouraging. It felt like everyone wanted the best for Theodor,” he said.
Today, 8-year-old Theodor loves gymnastics, and when he’s in Florida, loves the ocean – especially when playing in the waves with his sisters Bertine, 10, and Mathilda, 5. His parents, Heidi and Teddy, say Theodor enjoys the simple things in life and has a kind heart, ready to lend a helping hand to his classmates and anyone in need.
Patient Art Gallery Named in Honor of Karen L Cranford
November 2019
“Associating our art gallery with Karen L Cranford’s* name is an absolutely perfect connection,” said Bradlee Robbert, Director of Operations at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. “By all reports, she was quite a spitfire who loved color and things that sparkled. This gallery has both.”
It has been over five years since Karen and her mother travelled from North Carolina to seek treatment for Karen at the Institute. It’s a trip that was made all the more stressful because Karen’s father had recently succumbed to an unexpected cardiac event.
But, as would be expected, Karen and her mother found peacefulness and an exceptionally caring staff at the Institute. Some of that came through the art gallery and artists-in-residence who worked with patients, transforming nervous moments into pleasant exchanges and a sense of serenity. For both mother and daughter, it meant comfort in times that usually would have been filled with anxiety.
Seeing how important it was to Karen, her mother, Mrs. Cranford, made a contribution so that other adults — as well as children — could benefit from art therapy through the art gallery and the Child Life program through the Children’s Fund.
In addition, Mrs. Cranford’s gift will support the Karen L Cranford Endowment for Head and Neck Cancer Research that provides support in perpetuity for research at the Institute. “We are grateful for Mrs. Cranford’s generous gift in the loving memory of her daughter Karen, a remarkable woman,” said Nancy P. Mendenhall, MD, medical director of the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute.
For information about the Karen L Cranford Art Gallery or the Endowment, please contact Kathy Murray at kmurray@floridaproton.org or 904-588-1519.
*Please note: Karen L Cranford did not put a period (.) after the initial L in her name.
Supporters Gather to Play Golf. Fight Cancer.®
November 2019
Almost 98% of the patients treated at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute are treated on research protocols so it stands to reason that our annual fundraising golf tournament — Play Golf. Fight Cancer.® — would dedicate funds raised to research. This year’s 15th Anniversary Tournament, held October 21st at World Golf Village, is no exception.
Stuart Klein, Executive Director of UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, told attendees “Your support of the proton research fund gives us the ability to perform research that is changing the way cancer treatment is handled in the United States and around the world.”
Since opening in 2006, the Institute has treated more than 8,500 patients from across the U.S. and from many other countries. Among the patients already benefiting from proton therapy are those with prostate cancer, pediatric malignancies, sarcomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, head, neck and brain tumors as well as breast cancer and eye tumors.
The event had impressive support from IBA, .Decimal and Shepherd along with important backing from a variety of other sponsors.
Winning teams for this year’s tournament were:
1st Place: – Jeff Goolsby, Jeremy McDonald, Madison Swartz, Brad Robbert
2nd Place – Joey Bachelor, Sung Li, Dave Spradlin, Trevor Fleming
3rd Place: Jeff Toadvine, Ben Hankinson, Tom Hankinson, Steve Amos
Our heartfelt thanks to all who participated whether as a sponsor or player or both. We’re glad you joined us to Play Golf. Fight Cancer.®
Pages
Newsletter Sign Up
Join almost 5,000 who receive FREE content to their inbox every time we publish.
To read more articles,
choose a Precision Newsletter below:
Community Calendar
