US Airways - July 2012 - (Page 56)

BEST OF HEALTH Roberts Proton Therapy Center — Penn Medicine James Metz, MD, and a team of radiation therapists monitoring proton therapy delivery Advances in Proton Therapy h Philadelphia’s Penn Medicine is a national leader in cancer care. ome to the RobeRts Proton therapy Center, Penn medicine is at the forefront of an advanced form of radiation therapy used to kill cancer: Proton therapy, which delivers higher doses of radiation directly to the tumor site to effectively destroy tumors and can help avoid damage to surrounding tissue. “It’s important to be able to control the beam,” says Neha Vapiwala, mD, Chief of the Genitourinary service and Assistant Professor of Radiation oncology at Penn medicine. “the proton beam does not damage or unnecessarily hit the tissue beyond where you want it.” Proton therapy is one of the latest innovations, and another option for prostate cancer patients who might otherwise have to undergo surgery or conventional radiation therapy. Proton therapy is also used to kill tumors in the brain, JULY 2012 Neha Vapiwala, MD head and neck, and lung. Researchers at Penn medicine have found proton therapy’s unique physical characteristics may have advantages where the tumor is close to critical structures. As one of only 10 proton centers in the U.s., Penn medicine’s 75,000-square-foot Roberts Proton therapy Center, the largest and most advanced facility of its kind, is a leader in clinical trials and research studies on this new radiation therapy. “An incredibly important and innovative area of research we are focusing on is re-treatment,” says Dr. Vapiwala, who estimates the center currently has more than 50 patients enrolled in re-radiation trials. “People usually can’t have radiation again because the normal surrounding tissues can only take so much. Proton therapy may allow for repeat radiation by limiting the dose to the surrounding normal organs.” Proton therapy’s true potential continues to unfold. but as the only center that fully integrates proton therapy with conventional radiation therapy and medical and surgical approaches in one location, Penn medicine remains a world leader in cancer treatment and research. Visit PennMedicine.org/ Roberts-Proton. 56 usairwaysmag.com http://www.PennMedicine.org/Roberts-Proton http://www.PennMedicine.org/Roberts-Proton http://www.PennMedicine.org http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - July 2012

US Airways - July 2012
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Best Beaches
Wine & Dine: Table to Farm
Adventure: Home-Court Advantage
Great Escapes: Mayan Adventure
Destination Fabulous
Gear Up: Activate!
London Calling
Room with a View
Chefs Tell: Water's Edge
Charlotte in 2012
Best of Health
Flying High in North Carolina
Charlotte U.S.A.: From Crackers to Gelato
University Spotlight: Grand Canyon University
Must Read: Better, Stronger, Faster
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace™
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - July 2012