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Institute explains its cancer work

WE AT the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute believe our message, "Harder on cancer, easier on you," applies to all cancers we treat, not solely to prostate cancer as claimed in the article "US system to rate health therapies" (Page A1, March 2). The institute is a nonprofit corporation that treats a range of cancers, including those of the head and neck, lung, prostate, pancreas, bone, and brain. We also treat a variety of pediatric cancers.

Conventional or traditional radiation releases energy as it travels through the body, damaging healthy and cancerous cells. Proton therapy delivers the majority of radiation directly to the tumor, greatly sparing surrounding healthy tissues. We believe this precision means that many patients experience fewer side effects and a better quality of life during and following treatment.

The future of proton therapy depends heavily on clinical research, and the great majority of the institute's patients receive treatment under specific clinical protocols. This research will help improve the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and application of proton therapy.

The healthcare reform debate undoubtedly will consider the questions of clinical effectiveness and cost. Ultimately, patients should have the ability to choose the treatment that provides the best outcome for their individual situation.