Celebrating a Decade of Helping Hope Bloom for Cancer Patients with a Non-Invasive Cancer Treatment

#HopeBloomsAtProCure

Daffodils are more than a beautiful flower. To many cancer patients, they inspire hope for a life without this feared and dreaded disease. To others, they represent a 10-year milestone or anniversary flower. Daffodils are the perfect symbol for ProCure Proton Therapy Center as we celebrate 10 years of delivering compassionate cancer care in New Jersey and the tri-state region.

Our Center plans to plant or distribute 6,000 daffodil bulbs at our Somerset facility as well as throughout organizations in the community, with the help of our employees and residents representing one for every patient who has completed treatment at our Center within the past 10 years that our Center has been opened.

“I can remember when the land where ProCure now stands was farmland. Now, my colleagues and I are proud to help hope bloom for thousands who seek a life free from cancer” said Dr. Chon, medical director at ProCure Proton Therapy Center.

ProCure became the tri-state’s first proton therapy Center in March 2012. We have cared for patients with a range of cancers, including diseases of the prostate, breast, lung, brain, head and neck, and gastrointestinal system, as well as sarcomas and many pediatric cases.

What makes ProCure different is the type of treatment we offer and the positive impact it can have while our patients are going through treatment. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, proton therapy delivers particles to the body at lower energy levels and releases its energy upon impact with the tumor, so there is no “exit” dose. This reduces the exposure of radiation to nearby healthy tissues by more than 60 percent, which can be especially important when a tumor is located near critical organs or structures such as the brain, heart, or spinal cord.

As proton therapy delivers pinpoint radiation with less toxicity, higher doses can be safely directed to the tumor. This often leads to effective treatment with fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy and is cited by many of our patients as the reason they chose ProCure.

• For Ed, our 6,000th patient who had prostate cancer, fewer side effects meant he could continue routine activities like weekly grocery shopping immediately after treatment.
• For Olivia, a 17-year-old who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, it meant she could continue to pursue her passion for dancing.

As we have grown, we have expanded our ancillary services to include more concierge resources for transportation and lodging needs – thus enabling patients from other states and around the world to receive care with less stress and more comfort. The Center has also added a licensed social worker, a registered dietician, and translation resources.

Additionally, ProCure has partnered with highly skilled physicians and local healthcare institutions over the years, such as Princeton Radiation Oncology (now Astera Cancer Care), Hackensack Meridian Health, CentraState Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai, Montefiore, NYU School of Medicine, Northwell Health and the Central New Jersey Division of Regional Cancer Care Associates. We are immensely grateful for the opportunities they have provided us.

“Delivering world-class care takes a tremendous team effort and continued innovation. So, while we’re proud of the work we have already done, the staff at ProCure remains motivated by how we have evolved to meet the future needs of patients” added Dr. Chon.

“Witnessing our patients fight cancer with such bravery has a way of inspiring optimism for the future” noted Tom Wang, president at ProCure. “One of the most inspiring parts of our patients’ cancer journeys comes when they ring the bell in our main lobby. It signifies the completion of their treatment and another life positively impacted by our work. We are proud of the roots we have already planted in the fight against cancer. We hope our work will help hope bloom for many years of come.”