“A car wreck saved my life – would you believe it?”
Her daughter Kat, a nurse at the Texas Center for Proton Therapy, insisted that her mom visit the emergency room after her accident. Deborah didn’t feel that it was necessary. “I was black and blue all over but had no broken bones.” After a CAT scan, Deborah learned that she had a “suspicious looking spot” on her lung – more testing and a biopsy confirmed that it was cancer. Deborah had surgery to get the affected lobe removed, only to find out at her six-month post-op appointment that she had cancer once again, this time a different and more aggressive diagnosis on the other lung. With her second diagnosis came a more grueling plan of action: chemotherapy and radiation.
Deborah’s coworkers were present via video call when she rang the gong and celebrated the end of proton radiation treatment. “There’s no right way to tell your loved ones one of the worst things you can hear, and that it’s one of the worst types of cancer you can have,” she recalled. “But, I knew that proton therapy was the way to go. The preciseness of the treatment makes it by far the best choice for protecting your vital organs and getting the job done.”“I’d initially planned to work part time through it all,” said Deborah. “I’m so fortunate to have such good friends at work, they would call me every other day, and checked in on me constantly.”
Her daughter Kat recommended that Deborah come to the proton center for radiation therapy to spare her heart from the collateral damage of traditional radiation. Deborah made an appointment with proton and decided to move forward when it was confirmed that she was a good candidate for proton therapy. Deborah was thrilled to sing her praises about the proton center, from the front desk staff to the radiation therapists. “Everyone was so kind and welcoming,” she said, “it’s been the best experience one can have despite the circumstances.”
When asked what wisdom she would impart upon a newly diagnosed patient, Deborah said, “Don’t let it overwhelm you. Protect your heart, no question about it. Run, don’t walk to the proton center. The staff is fabulous, and the experience is great from beginning to finish. Why go any other route?”
The information included in this testimonial is based on one patient’s unique experience and is not intended to represent all patient outcomes or expectations.
