January Newsletter Mailed
January’s newsletter covered the New York Times January 24th article about radiation therapy mishaps using the X-RAY technology. (Note all the cases mentioned in the article were treated with X-RAY radiation and NOT proton therapy) The ProtonPals newsletter points out that these harmful accidents while tragic and our heart goes out to the patients, happen very infrequently and everything is done to assure the quality of the service. Responses to the article by several key professionals are highlighted and links are given to complete articles.
The chair of radiation oncology at M.D. Anderson, Dr. Thomas Buchholz responded by pointing out that industry statistics show these harmful accidents happen only 0.00001% of the time. A paragraph from what Dr. Buchholz published.
“Understandably, patients don’t see the expert teams of highly specialized, Ph.D.-level medical physicists, certified dosimetrists and experienced computer specialists who work closely with the patient care teams making sure that equipment is properly commissioned and calibrated at every use, that radiation treatment plans are safe and properly directed, and that therapists are proficient in the delivery of each patient’s customized radiation plan.”
Regarding the M.D. Anderson PROTON CENTER, I’ve included an unofficial comment for the ProtonPals: “At the proton center, the amount of actual machine- and patient-specific quality assurance performed by our Physics team eclipses that of other x-ray practices by a significant degree”.
I know for a fact that the entire team of physicists, dosimetrists, engineers, therapists and nurses reside (or “office”) in the Proton Center and are there in support of optimal treatment results.
To read more please pull up the January Newsletter in the ProtonPals archives.
