Patient Story: Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Proton Therapy Helped Me Share Moments with My Grandchildren
Kathy Brandt was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in 2011 at her local hospital. After much research, and a recommendation from her brother-in-law, who is a physician, Kathy chose Penn Medicine for her lung cancer treatment, which included proton therapy. Today, Kathy is cancer free. 

You hear the word “cancer” and it's truly terrifying.

It was basically just a checkup with my pulmonologist because I have emphysema. He sent me for a chest X-ray and that is when they found the tumor in my lung. It was a terrifying time and thankfully I had strong family surrounding me - strong family helping me make decisions about what kind of treatment I should have. After that initial diagnosis, when you feel like you have been hit with a ton of bricks, then the decision needs to be made where you are going to seek treatment. My brother-in-law, who is a physician, along with my pulmonologist suggested I go to Penn Medicine for treatment.

Penn Medicine was a wonderful choice for us. They used a team approach.  I saw an oncologist, I saw a surgeon, and the radiologist is all located at Penn Medicine.  It was very comforting to know that all these people are just working to take care of you and to make you better.

I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer at the end of June.  My surgery was the beginning of August and chemo started in September. It was finished in November.  I started proton therapy in December, which lasted for 4 weeks.

Deciding to Have Proton Therapy at Penn
I decided to go with the proton radiation because of the cancer’s proximity to my heart and spine. I chose proton therapy because I knew it would be more precise and would have less side effects and that was very important to me.

The Proton Therapy Experience
Every day for 5 weeks, I would leave work, come home, and my husband would take me to Penn for proton therapy. After the treatment, we’d go home and I’d spend time with my grandchildren and their parents, who were living with us at the time. My granddaughter was about 3 months old at the time. And I would take her, feed her, and just spend time with the people that meant the most to me.

I really felt wonderful. I continued to work the whole time I had proton therapy – I never missed a day of work, actually. I was a bit more tired than usual, but that was really the only side effect I felt.

When I completed proton therapy, I rang the bell.  Everybody in the waiting room clapped, and we went home and I think I had a very big glass of wine after treatment was finished.

After Proton Therapy
Today, I don’t sweat the small stuff.

I would tell anyone to feel very comfortable going to Penn Medicine, and I would tell anyone to also feel very comfortable in choosing proton therapy simply because of the fewer side effects and its extreme precision.  I would recommend Penn Medicine wholeheartedly.  I cannot say enough good things about my experience.

Learn More About Proton Therapy at Penn Medicine
Proton therapy is a non-invasive, incredibly precise cancer treatment that uses a beam of protons moving at very high speeds to destroy the DNA of cancer cells killing them and preventing them from multiplying.

Unlike conventional radiation that can affect surrounding healthy tissue as it enters the body and targets the tumor, proton therapy’s precise, high dose of radiation is extremely targeted. This targeted precision causes less damage to healthy, surrounding tissue.

Watch the full video of Kathy's experience.

Learn more about proton therapy, or schedule a consultation with a radiation oncologist at Penn Medicine. 

Penn Develops Robotic Approaches for Treating Lung Disease

The thoracic surgeons at Penn Medicine are leaders in developing and applying minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat chest and lung diseases, including cancer.

Minimally invasive alternatives to traditional open-chest surgery, including robotic-assisted surgery, are used to treat many diseases in the chest and lungs, including lung cancer, thymic and mediastinal tumors, emphysema, hiatal hernias, fluid in the chest and chest infections, according to Taine Pechet, MD, Penn thoracic surgeon and vice chief of surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Lobectomy (removal of a section of the lung) is a common surgical treatment for lung cancer. Dr. Pechet said last year nearly half of all lobectomy surgeries were performed minimally invasively using video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATs). With the recent addition of robotic-assisted thoracic surgery, Penn surgeons are extending the minimally invasive surgical options available to treat patients.

"Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery is relatively new in the U.S.," Dr. Pechet said. "Penn Medicine is an early innovator in the use of robotic-assisted surgery and is developing the techniques and strategies that will define the role of robotic-assisted surgery in the treatment of lung diseases."

For patients, the benefits of minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery may include:

• Less early post-operative pain
• Less risk of infection
• Less anesthesia
• Less blood loss
• Less risk of abnormal heart rhythms
• Better early lung function
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster and more complete recovery
• Quicker return to normal daily activities

For surgeons, the surgical robot's 3D visualization and added degree of movement allow increased control and precision, a key element in performing successful lung surgery. Dr. Pechet said Penn's thoracic surgeons are currently developing the best ways to apply this technology to chest surgery. As new technology and surgical techniques emerge, Penn's experienced surgeons are positioned to use the new techniques as soon as they become available.

Dr. Pechet sees patients and performs surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and sees patients at The Penn Lung Center at Shore Memorial Hospital. For more information, visit the Penn Lung Center. Appointments can be made online or by calling 800-789-PENN (7366).