How Can Proton Therapy Improve Breast Cancer Treatment?

Proton therapy is receiving growing interest for the treatment of breast cancer, particularly left-sided breast cancer which is closer to the heart.
Marcio Fagundes, M.D., director of radiation oncology at Miami Cancer Institute, explains the Institute's role in a national study investigating proton's potential advantages in the treatment of these patients.
Hear from patient Madlyn McKendry who travels from Lake Worth to Miami daily to participate in the study. Miami Cancer Institute's Proton Therapy Center is the only location south of Jacksonville participating in the trial.

Want to see more?

[Transcript]
(upbeat music)
[Baptist Health logo]

[Marcio Fagunes, M.D. Medical Director of Radiation Oncology Miami Cancer Institute]

[Dr. Fagunes]: There's a growing interest to use radiation therapy for breast cancer, especially left-sided breast cancer. We are part of the national study called RadComm and it's a randomized study between proton and conventional radiation.

[Madlyn McKendry receives treatment in a proton therapy room at Miami Cancer Institute]

[Dr. Fagunes]: Proton therapy is different in the sense that we send the radiation into the breast, but we stop the radiation before it reaches the heart.

[Madlyn McKendry Breast Cancer Patient]

[Madlyn]: I did my own research on it and it just looked amazing to me, especially if you have left-sided breast cancer. I called down here and I asked for some information and I couldn't believe when Dr. Fagundes called me back himself at 6:30 at night the same day.

[Dr. Fagundes and a nurse meet with Madlyn in an examination room prior to treatment]

[Dr. Fagundes]: Madlyn's case is a very good example of a patient that qualifies for the study. She has breast cancer that needs radiation also, including internal membranes closer to the heart. So, she ended up being randomized to proton therapy and she's doing very well with her treatment.

[Madlyn walks into the proton treatment room which is softly lit in a green hue, accompanied by a nurse and a technician]
[Dr. Fagundes looks at a scan of Madlyn's torso on a monitor in the treatment room]

[Madlyn]: It seems like nothing really. The setup takes longer than the treatment.

[Dr. Fagundes and nurses talk as Madyln is positioned on her back on a table in the proton treatment room]

[Madlyn]: Breast cancer is a life-long diagnosis. So, I'm always gonna have to alert and aware. Cancer can be kinda dark, so you want the place you're going to feel light.

[Bright, spacious lobby and waiting area near the proton treatment rooms]

[Madlyn]: The building itself, the colors, everything really works to feel like healing and good.

[Dr. Fagundes]: This randomized study is still ongoing.

[Madlyn is on the table in the treatment room while Dr. Fagundes and his team observe her on monitors inside the control room.]

[Dr. Fagundes]: We'll be looking at final results nearly 10 years after the start of the trial. And if it proves that we are decreasing cardiac complications from radiation to the point that we believe it will, then proton therapy will become the preferred treatment for these patients. I'm very excited about being part of our institution and participating in these studies because we are determining new practices and evolving what the medical field will be doing in the next year and years to come.

(upbeat music comes to powerful conclusion)
[Baptist Health]

[end of transcript]