Thank you for making your way to the Pediatric Proton Foundation website. I want to tell you the story behind the Foundation, and why I believe our organization will help fill a critical need in the treatment of pediatric cancer cases.

 

Learning your child has cancer is devastating. So many treatment decisions have to be made in a short period of time. The better armed you are with information early in the process – the better. 

 

We rely on our doctors for most of our information, and our fear often directs us to follow a single doctor’s advice to the letter. Before doing so, I encourage you to speak with other experts and to explore all of your options. We must become our child’s advocate. 

 

When our two-year old son, Jacob, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in August 2007, his protocol called for radiation therapy after six rounds of chemotherapy. Our father-in-law had learned about proton therapy just months before. He insisted we take a look at the Proton Therapy Center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. After beginning treatment there a short while later, we were surprised to learn that over 85% of pediatric patients are referred to proton by friends or family members! We wanted to “pay it forward” by making proton therapy an option that you can consider because many oncologists and radiation oncologists are simply not educated in the benefits of this advanced treatment. This website is designed to provide answers to many of the questions you may have, and to help you navigate the roadblocks you may encounter should you decide to pursue proton therapy.

 

Thank you for visiting our site. Please feel free to leave comments that will allow us to improve the services and support we provide families at this truly difficult time. Our hearts are with you. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Susan Ralston

Executive Director/Founder