Survivor Spotlight: Leska Cipolla
Pregnant with her oldest son, Leska Cipolla found out that she was BRCA positive, which meant she had a higher risk of developing breast cancer. With a family history of breast cancer (her mom and two sisters), and being a nurse herself, Leska was proactive in her healthcare.
Survivor Spotlight: Barry Showalter
Barry Showalter explored other options before choosing proton therapy for high-risk prostate cancer. Barry Showalter is a 10-year prostate cancer survivor who encourages others to not worry if they are diagnosed with prostate cancer and to look into proton therapy for their treatment.
Teen Patient Continues Cheerleading Through Proton Therapy Treatments
Mya Thibodeau is a 15-year-old young woman passionate about cheerleading and exercise. It was a shock in December 2023, when Mya was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She feared her cheerleading days would have to end, but with proton therapy at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, Mya found hope and returned to cheerleading while undergoing part of her treatment for brain cancer.
Survivor Spotlight: Abbie (Dunn) Few
In April, Abbie (Dunn) Few and her husband Mike celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary. The anniversary is more than a celebration of marriage for Abbie and her family. It’s a reminder that Abbie is thriving and moving forward after a brain cancer diagnosis in 2013.
Proton Alumni Spotlight: Drew Rogers
Drew Rogers recently returned from Germany where he coached a world-class team of USA athletes in various distances at the 17th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.
Anastasia Spiecker - Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor
“Any time whatever I am facing in life starts to feel challenging, I remember where I’ve been and what I’ve been through. It reminds me of how strong I really am and how I’ve been guided and blessed even in the darkest times in my life,” said Anastasia Spiecker.
Survivor Spotlight: David Bruyn
David Bruyn has been through a lot. Following two strokes and brain surgery, he faced another challenge when a hemorrhagic brain stem stroke impacted his ability to swallow, leading to the installation of a feeding tube.
Survivor Spotlight: Denise Hawks
Denise was diagnosed with a spinal chordoma in 2017. Chordomas are an extremely rare type of sarcoma (cancer) that occurs in the bone, with fewer than 300 people diagnosed annually in the United States.
Survivor Spotlight: Toni Renna
Toni Renna and her husband Ronald live in The Villages in Central Florida. They are surrounded by friends and a supportive community. It was the fortune of having a friend who had treated his prostate cancer with proton therapy at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute that would change Toni’s own battle with lung cancer.