“The elephant in the room:” An undiagnosed cancer

Following several cycles of chemotherapy and a mastectomy for her lymph node-positive breast cancer, as well as a bout of community acquired pneumonia, Kathi was scheduled for conventional photon radiation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). However, due to a carcinoid tumor previously discovered in Kathi’s right lung, her doctor instead recommended proton therapy and referred her to Dr. Isabelle Choi, radiation oncology attending at MSK and Clinical Director at the New York Proton Center.

“We knew that, following Kathi’s treatment, we would need to surgically remove the lobe with her carcinoid tumor,” said Dr. Choi. “Proton therapy dramatically reduced the prospect of complications from that surgery. It also helped minimize any damage, inflammation and scarring to her remaining lung tissue.”

During her first conversation with Dr. Choi, Kathi felt incredibly comfortable and reassured.

“She explained proton therapy just the way I like it,” Kathi said. “Very matter-of-fact. No sugar coating, but also very positive. She basically said, ‘This is what we can do. This is how we predict it will work.’”

And just as Dr. Choi predicted, it did work, every bit as well as expected.

“I went to see my breast surgeon after my proton therapy,” said Kathi. “And she basically said, ‘Everything looks wonderful.’”

Kathi was heartened by virtually everything she encountered at the center—but in particular with the remarkable effectiveness of her proton therapy. Due to the precision of the proton beams, the radiation accurately targeted the cancer while minimizing radiation exposure to adjacent tissues and organs. That was a crucial benefit in the case of a synchronous lung tumor like hers, which requires additional thoracic surgery and lung tissue removal.

“It was all just fascinating. And I loved the way they explained it to me: ‘Beam three will be here in 30 seconds, beam four will be here in 45 seconds.’ It was like the air traffic controllers at Kennedy Airport.”

Unlike conventional photon radiation therapy, the side effects of Kathi’s proton treatment were minimal. There was no peeling, blistering, or radiation burn—and only mildly noticeable skin redness.

“A week later on my birthday, we went out to dinner,” she said. “And the lobster on my plate was redder than the skin on my chest.”

Asked how she might counsel someone else navigating cancer, Kathi was clear and emphatic.

“If they have the option, I’d recommend going proton. It’s an easy treatment, with far less damage to other organs. Since they’re already going through this frightening battle, I’d say, ‘Keep everything else as healthy as you can.”

As impressed as she was with the proton technology, Kathi was even more deeply affected by the camaraderie she felt with the New York Proton Center team. Everyone she met was knowledgeable and thoroughly professional, but at the same time warm and easygoing. What began as lighthearted conversations with the staff about what type of music to play during her treatment soon evolved into more intimate sharing and storytelling—about their upbringings, books they read, foods they enjoyed.

“It was a lot of those little interactions that made it all so comfortable,” Kathi said. “Even though you’re there for a very serious reason, the whole thing was very human and very caring.

“At the same time, you always have a feeling of total confidence in your doctors and your entire support team. You never doubt for a moment that you’re getting outstanding care.”