Check out the latest news about proton therapy: this week, find out how this state-of-the-art treatment is helping to take care of more and more children with life-threatening diseases and giving hope to many families from around the world.
Brave 9-year-old facing new cancer fight
Brave Alex Novakovic, a 9-year-old boy who received life saving cancer treatment, is facing a second fight against the disease as doctors found new tumors on his lungs and skull.
In 2013, Alex Novakovic flew to Boston for proton beam therapy to treat a deadly tumor in his brain. Now, the youngster faces a fresh battle after cancer was found in his lungs and skull. Alex’s uncle said : “Alex hurt his chest while he was playing with his sister and we took him to the doctors. An MRI showed spots of cancer. They were quite surprised because it was totally clear at the facility where he had the proton treatment.
Alex will now have a two-week break before starting a second round of chemotherapy. In that time, samples of the tumors have been sent for laboratory testing, to find out what treatment will work best. “He tolerates chemotherapy very well. It is a bit of a jaunt to go to the hospital and back for the treatment, but he is determined to spend time with his sister.”
Destiny travels to Jacksonville for cancer treatment
Destiny Dye, an eight-year-old girl from Dundee, UK is suffering from Ewing’s sarcoma bone cancer, which affects only 30 people in the UK. She is heading to Florida for specialist proton beam therapy.
Destiny has had to undergo nine surgical procedures since last May as well as intensive chemotherapy to fight the cancer growing in her skull. In December, a cancerous tumor was removed from Destiny’s head and she returned home in time for Christmas.But doctors now feel specialist proton beam therapy, which is not available in the UK, may be necessary to beat the disase. The treatment can cost up to £100,000 per patient
The NHS is paying for her treatment and accommodation but fund-raisers have donated money for the family’s living costs while in the United States.
Destiny’s Cancer Journey Facebook page revealed the family departed for Jacksonville on Monday morning. It said: “Would like to say a massive thanks to everyone for all your support and continued support. You have all been amazing and kept us strong.”
End of treatment for brave brain tumor sufferer
Lauren Uncles, a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor during a routine eye test is now more than half way through treatment which could cure her for life.
Lauren from Barton, UK has been receiving proton beam therapy in the US since the end of January after she was diagnosed with a benign tumor. She had been complaining to be unable to see the board at school and it was only when her mum took her for an optician’s appointment it was revealed there was a tumor pressing on her optic nerve. She had surgery to remove the tumor, but some of it remained and caused fluid to gather on her brain. Her doctor decided proton therapy would be the best course of action for her treatment.
She has just eight sessions remaining of the daily treatment. Lauren’s mom said “The treatment is daily and lasts for about 25 to 30 minutes. She also has a weekly MRI and, so far, each one has the results that we like to hear. There’s no fluid on her brain; she’s also not had any of the side effects so far.” She also said there was plenty for families to get involved with at the proton center where Lauren was being treated, and they were all ‘coping well’.
