First group of patients 'graduate' from treatment at CDH Proton Center, A Procure Center

Two months after the opening of the CDH Proton Center, A ProCure Center, the first patients have "graduated" from their treatment surrounded by family, friends and staff. The group of graduating patients, whose tumors included prostate, brain and a non-cancerous tumor on the spinal cord, received proton therapy, an alternative to standard X-ray radiation that spares healthy tissue and results in far fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects.

“We are very pleased to see how well our patients are doing as they finish their treatments”

The Center, which is the first proton therapy center in Illinois and just the ninth such center in the country, celebrated its grand opening Oct. 19, three months ahead of schedule.

"The fact that this Center was able to open ahead of schedule was fate for our daughter, who endured four surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy before it was time for proton therapy," said Carl Meier of Glenview, Ill., whose 10-year-old daughter Zoe was treated for a brain tumor at the Center. "We knew proton therapy was the best course of treatment, but we were nervous about relocating for a couple months to another city where there was a proton center. For almost nine years we have battled her condition and she has remained strong. We are confident that now that she has completed her six-weeks of proton treatment, we can begin putting this behind us."

"We are very pleased to see how well our patients are doing as they finish their treatments," said William Hartsell, M.D., medical director of the CDH Proton Center, A ProCure Center. "It is very exciting to bring this powerful treatment option to the Chicago area. There are literally thousands of patients in the metropolitan area alone who could benefit, and many more in neighboring states where proton centers are not yet available."