TEDx Talk - Scott Hamilton on Proton Beam Therapy (Sept. 2015)
Having received Proton Beam Radiotherapy in Houston, TX, I found much of this TEDx talk to help me understand how proton radiation works. In addition, Scott Hamilton's story about living with cancer and his pituitary tumor is inspiring. Read more about it here: Scott Hamilton Cares.
Five years have passed since my radiation treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. My vision and hearing are still intact. I will be traveling to California this month for a MRI and follow-up with my neurosurgeon to determine the status of my tumor. My last scan was in 2015 and the report suggested my tumor was shrinking. As expected, my pituitary function is failing because it was in the field of radiation, but my quality of life is still good on hormone replacement. I am hopeful the news is the same and that the proton treatment I received successfully stabilized my tumor.
*Note regarding a comment in the video about insurance coverage: After my brain surgery in 2011, I had residual tumor growing less than 2 mm from my optic nerve, so the risk of going blind was high. My insurance carrier required a need for proton beam vs. stereotactic radiosurgery or radiotherapy. Initially, they denied the coverage for proton radiation; however, I petitioned, and they reversed their decision after my oncologist further explained the benefit of this type of treatment when a tumor is near the optic nerve.
