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David Stanley Ford

Oklahoma City cancer treatment center to open
HealthProCure therapy targets tumors more precisely

SUSAN SIMPSON    Comments Comment on this article16
Published: July 5, 2009


Ed Bertels, president of ProCure, with the cyclotron that produces proton energy to treat tumors. PHOTO BY David McDaniel, THE OKLAHOMAN

Oklahoma’s first proton center for cancer treatment opens Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

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Subatomic particles offer cancer hope

Proton therapy is a type of particle therapy that uses a precise beam of protons to irradiate a tumor site. Protons are large particles that can be manipulated to release their energy. The more energy, the deeper the protons can penetrate the body. Physicians can calculate the precise amount of proton energy needed to release radiation exactly at the tumor site. Less radiation reaches the healthy tissue on the front of the tumor, and virtually none of it reaches the healthy tissue behind the tumor. That means less damage to healthy tissue.

POTENTIAL PATIENT DEMAND FOR THE USE OF PROTON THERAPY
→There are 1.4 million new cancer cases each year, according to the American Cancer Society

→About 60 percent (840,000) of new cancer patients annually will seek radiation therapy at some point during care.

→About 30 percent of the radiation patients — 250,000 — are patients who would benefit from proton therapy.

SOURCE: Procure Treatment Centers, www.procure.com.

Up to 1,500 patients a year could be treated at the $120 million ProCure Proton Therapy Center at Memorial Road and MacArthur Boulevard.

ProCure officials say it will be the sixth such center in the United States and the first opened by their Indiana-based company.

Proton therapy uses a 220-ton machine called a cyclotron to split atoms and create a beam of energy that destroys cancer cells more precisely than traditional radiation therapy. A similar center is planned as part of the OU Cancer Institute now under construction near downtown.

The ProCure center will open with 52 employees but will grow to twice that when evening shifts are added to treat additional cancer patients.

"We are serious about cancer care, and this is one more weapon in the toolbox to fight cancer,” said ProCure President Ed Bertels.

According to ProCure, about 250,000 cancer patients in the United States are candidates for proton therapy, but only 6,000 treatment slots were available at existing centers. The Oklahoma City center is expected to draw patients from many states for treatment periods that can last up to eight weeks.

Proton treatment damages less healthy tissue than radiation treatment, said Dr. Sameer Keole, a pediatric radiation oncologist who moved from the University of Florida to Oklahoma City to work for ProCure.

"An X-ray is a bullet causing damage across its path, but protons are like firecrackers — a sudden burst of energy in exactly one place. We want to put the firecracker in the middle of the cancer.”

He said children with brain tumors see less loss of brain function and IQ when treated with proton therapy.

The Integris Cancer Institute is being constructed adjacent to the ProCure center. Oklahoma State University announced in October that it is developing a medical physicists program to train workers for centers such as ProCure.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Science and Technology, Health and Fitness, Medicine, Sciences, Medical Treatments and Procedures, Cancer, Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics


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Miguel, since you seem to know all about Obamacare, let me ask you a question. I'm putting you in charge of Obamacare ok. So who gets this treatment, me or Michaels mom? To pay for both Michaels mom and me, YOU are going to have to tax everybody more, because it costs so much. Lets hear your decision.
Sooners Win, Norman - Jul 6, 2009 at 12:00 am
By the way, please use your brain. No matter what happens with health care in America, those with money will always have access to the best health care, including miracles like this. I know many of you conservatives can't sleep at night because the rich and powerful might be bothered, but REALLY sleep easy. They are gonna be A-OK. Obama, like other logical people, knows this, and has concerned himself instead with the least of us. (you know, the poor people and middle-class folks you could give a rat's-ass about) Well they need help too. It funny cause you probably have less money than me. The rich aren't worried about you---or their health care.
Miguel, Oklahoma City - Jul 5, 2009 at 11:59 pm
First of all, get over yourselves. Second, this machine will help thousands. Obama's healthcare plan will help millions. AND--while we are on the subject of health care and scientific advances, which of course you'd like to exploit at ANY price...cause you life is SO valuable, you might consider supporting embyonic stem cell research.
Miguel, Oklahoma City - Jul 5, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Michael, then will you educate your brethren liberal friends about your mom and what she went through with her cancer. You should know like I do that you just dont walk up to the front door of this new facility, sit down in the lobby and in five minutes you are in this thing getting treatment. The type of cancer you have and your oncologist will know if you need this or not. Read between the lines michael, of what Ed wrote, all he cares about is the cost, he doesnt care about anyones life. Well I say to you michael, if your mom needed this type of treatment to save her life, the people like Ed thinks it costs to much. I say you can not put a price on a life! He did and guess what michael, putting a price on mine and your mom is coming. WITH OBAMACARE! Somebody in Washington is going to say, "NO Michael, it costs to much money to have this treatment for your mom." Its called rationing our health care - OBAMACARE! Michael, you dont know who I am, what I do, or what I know. Let me leave you with this. Most insurance plans are of 60/40 - 70/30 - 80/20 with Obamacare it will be the exact opposite - instead of the insurance paying 80% and you paying 20% with obamacare you will pay 80% and only get 20% coverage. Take it from someone who knows what is coming!
Sooners Win, Norman - Jul 5, 2009 at 11:30 pm
In Canada, it would be a six month wait to get into this machine, at the least. I heard a report that Canada is making moves to make their system like the ours. Of track but interesting, since this is a major example of what Obama wants the Us to be like.
Joe, Luther - Jul 5, 2009 at 10:35 pm
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I saw the plans for this two years ago. It is incredible. I am really glad it is here, almost amazed it is here. K is correct. This is not a political issue. That is for another day.
Joe, Luther - Jul 5, 2009 at 10:16 pm
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Michael,Yukon - I dont want to get in the middle of the Chris/Ed thing but why is it that you, as a liberal Democrat, equate being able to use these 2 facilities with being rich? Perhaps, and hopefully, you mean being FORTUNATE enough to have health insurance that will cover such procedures. I have health insurance and am FAR from being rich. Michael, I feel quite confident that for ProCure and OU to invest the money to purchase this extraordinary equipment and to build the buildings necessary to house it, insurance covers it.
Denver, Centennial - Jul 5, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Some of you guys look for any reason to have a republican vs. democrat debate. It's really getting old. My prediction is that before this discussion is done, there will be a huge debate on who is to blame for cancer... that 'half breed' Obama, or that 'Yankee liar' George Bush? Grow up.
K, Frederick - Jul 5, 2009 at 10:10 pm
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Chris, you liken your statement to all liberals. Well I am a Democrat and liberal. You cannot put a price on a life. I believe he is talking about the actual cost and will it only be available to the rich. We need to ensure that break thru treatments are going to be covered by insurance so all can take advantage. I am sorry you have cancer, I have dealt with cancer in with my mom 4 times and if it was not for insurance she would not be here if it comes back again we already know there current insurance would not cover the expense. Maybe that is why us so called liberals are trying to get health care in check especially with insurance companies. So maybe you should blame those who have caused the medical crisis and it is not liberals big insurance and the republicans have held back real change in how we do healthcare maybe if you to time to understand things maybe you could focus your anger someplace else then just blaming Liberals.
Michael, Yukon - Jul 5, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Someone reported my last post as inappropriate. What, the truth hurts! You take it off but wont respond! Cant stand to hear the truth so you have to take it off. What was wrong it! Say something if you didnt like it! There wasn't anything on there that was offensive. Lets hear what you have to say, I'll be waiting!
Sooners Win, Norman - Jul 5, 2009 at 8:28 pm
To all the liberals out there LIKE ED I need to how much is your life WORTH Ed? Please respond ED! How much is your life WORTH? Lets here it ED and all your liberal friends! ED, HOW MUCH IS YOUR LIFE WORTH! PLEASE PUT A PRICE TAG ON YOUR LIFE!
WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO HEAR THIS, ED!
I,MYSELF HAVE CANCER, SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT IS A LIFE WORTH!
All your stupid liberls make me SICK!
Please someone form the LEFT
PLEASE RESPOND!
HOW MUCH IS SOMEONES LIFE WORTH!
Like I said , Ed, I have Cancer - and I would really like to know, since you liberals know so much, how much is your life and my life worth.
PLEASE RESPOND!!!!!!!!!!!
Sooners Win, Norman - Jul 5, 2009 at 3:44 pm
willis, okc....true enough!
Sallie, Del City - Jul 5, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Bravo, that is exciting news!! Families that are faced with this devastating disease will no doubt be heartened by the opening of yet another front in the fight against this killer. Yes it is expensive, and yes many will not be able to take advantage of the treatment for
economic reasons. That too is a tragedy and is much too common worldwide, not just in America. But every small step is a giant stride in the war against an enemy that has taken so many of every age race gender and nation of the world....
willis, oklahoma city - Jul 5, 2009 at 1:10 pm
1) Quote...."He said children with brain tumors see less loss of brain function and IQ when treated with proton therapy." I find it interesting that children are brought into the mesh. Why? mmmmhhhhh. It is certainly a way to justify the cost that will no doubt be charged by insurance companies be they private or the up and coming universal health care program.

Is the treatment worth it? Probably so. I just find it interesting that the first reference in 'any' treatment brings up the word children. mmmmhhhhhh. Oh well, that America.
Sallie, Del City - Jul 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm
The last thing you're going to read about in this article is how much an average eight week treatment is going to cost if you don't have insurance. My guess is about $250,000.
Ed, Oklahoma City - Jul 5, 2009 at 11:23 am
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