“I wanted to finish out the semester and get to winter break for my kids,” said Sean, who teaches and coaches near Lewisville. “My kids are everything to me.”
Not long after his parotid (salivary gland) tumor diagnosis, Sean began experiencing symptoms quite rapidly; the most concerning of which was facial paralysis. “The doctors had never seen anything like it before,” recalled Sean. “My biopsies kept coming back as atypical, and there was a heightened sense of urgency when we realized that it was affecting the nerves in my face.”
Parotid tumors often cause swelling in the face or jaw, and can include symptoms such as problems swallowing, numbness, burning, or pins-and-needles sensations in the face. Proton therapy for head and neck cancers affords the opportunity to preserve the tongue muscle, taste, and the ability to swallow, often avoiding the future need for speech therapy or alternative feeding methods. Head and neck cancers comprise about four percent of U.S. cancer cases and develop more frequently in men than women.
After a surgical procedure for his diagnosis, Sean learned that he would need radiation therapy. The deciding factors for Sean and his surgeon in choosing proton therapy? Zero margin for error and minimal downtime. Proton therapy allowed Sean to continue working, never missing a day of teaching. “Knowing that I was going to a professional and caring environment made all the difference. The staff, radiation therapists, and Dr. Sturgeon were all so kind, and extremely professional. I felt the love at every appointment and always looked forward to coming to the proton center,” said Sean. “I’m so grateful for the proton center and spent each day on that treatment table reflecting on all of the wonderful opportunities afforded to me.”
In his downtime, Sean loves spending time with his wife and two sons. “Being there for my family was of the utmost importance to me. Being treated at the proton center lent me the flexibility I needed to make it to my appointments and allowed me to be present at home.” Sean credits his loving wife and his positive outlook throughout his experience for getting him through it all. “My wife is my best friend. Her support and the right perspective made all of this possible.”
