CentraState - Healthy Directions

Peace ProCured D riving to work. Playing golf. Enjoying a pain-free workday. These activities made up Frank Mackinson's life. But two years ago, Frank, 59 at the time, suddenly experienced double vision while driving to his Bound Brook home. By the time he pulled over, his normal sight returned and he dismissed the incident. However, last year, he noticed hearing problems in his left ear, and the double vision returned for longer periods of time. After visiting several specialists, Frank had a brain scan, which revealed a solitary plasma cytoma—a cancerous tumor—at the base of his skull. He needed to seek a treatment option right away. That's when he heard about the ProCure Proton Therapy Center, a collaboration of ProCure Proton Treatment Centers, Princeton Radiation Oncology and CentraState Healthcare System. The medical director of the ProCure Proton Therapy Center is Brian Chon, MD, board-certified radiation oncologist on staff at CentraState. "I was preparing for radiation treatment when I heard about proton therapy and ONE MAN'S CANCER SUCCESS STORY how it has less risk of side effects," Frank recalls. "The ProCure Proton Therapy Center in New Jersey opened for treatment March 26, and I started my therapy two days later. Within two weeks, my vision was completely normal." PAINLESS, TUMORLESS For nine weeks, Frank traveled 10 minutes from his front door to ProCure and received proton radiation treatment, which is designed to stop the growth of cancer cells and ultimately destroy them. Frank's therapy sessions usually lasted about 15 minutes, so he was always in and out in less than an hour. "Once, as I was waiting in the lobby, my wife caught me reading a magazine without my glasses, which I hadn't been able to do for three years," Frank says. "The whole experience was wonderful, especially after having watched my father experience side effects with his cancer treatment. I was amazed to see that my treatment left me with no side effects." Frank Mackinson is back on the golf course after successful proton therapy to treat a cancerous tumor at the base of his skull. Now, Frank's back to the symptom-free life he enjoyed before his tumor. He can drive, golf and work again. He's looking forward to taking his wife to visit their son in Florida and daughter in Virginia soon, knowing that he'll be able to fully enjoy the experience with restored vision. For more information about the ProCure Proton Therapy Center, call (855) 411-CANCER (855-411-2263) or visit www.centrastatecancercenter.com. HD Scan this QR code with your smartphone to sign up for a FREE lecture on cancer treatments on Dec. 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. Proton Therapy: Targeted Tumor Treatment Both proton and X-ray radiation therapies change the genetic structure of the cells they reach, damaging them and stopping the repair process. Since these cells cannot fix themselves, they eventually die, which, in the case of cancer cells, is the desired outcome. 6 November/December 2012 Oncologists can aim protons directly at a cancerous tumor so that radiation exposure to nearby tissue is dramatically minimized. Proton therapy has been scientifically proven to reduce the radiation exposure to surrounding tissues and organs by more than half compared to standard X-ray therapy. This specific targeting can help prevent harmful side effects while still treating cancer in a powerful way. Healthy Directions

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