Not sure why, but my last post was published without including some of what I wrote.
Here is the rest:
I suggest that you your MRI of the brain (with and without contrast) along with the MRI written report to a Proton Center of your choice. You may want to include a medical record from the diagnosing doctor too.
Take a look here for info about where the Proton Centers are:
http://www.proton-therapy.org/index.htmlThe National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) is a non-profit organization supported by proton center members and is the Voice of the Proton Community. The NAPT promotes education and public awareness for the clinical benefits of proton beam radiation therapy. Founded in 1990, NAPT is an advocate for the advancement of proton therapy. It serves as a resource center for patients, physicians and health care providers, universities, academic medical centers, hospitals, cancer centers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other health care agencies, the U.S. Congress and staff, and the news media.
We are strong advocates for patient access to proton therapy as a superior form of radiation treatment for cancerous tumors that can result in less morbidity and minimum to no side effects.
Supporting operating center members:
Willis-Knighton Health System, Shreveport, Louisiana
Scripps Proton Therapy Center, San Diego, California
The Provision Center for Proton Therapy, Knoxville, Tennessee
S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center at the Siteman Cancer Center
SCCA Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center in Seattle, Washington
The Roberts Proton Therapy Center at University of Pennsylvania Health System
ProCure Proton Therapy Center in partnership with Princeton Radiation Oncology Group and CentraState Healthcare System, Somerset, N.J.
James M. Slater, M.D. Proton Treatment and Research Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center
The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Proton Center, Houston
ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Oklahoma City, located at the INTEGRIS Cancer Campus
CDH Proton Center, Chicago
Massachusetts General Hospital
Supporting members under construction:
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Medical Center
Texas Center for Proton Therapy
UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health
The McLaren Proton Therapy Center, Flint, Michigan
Mayo Clinic Proton Beam Therapy Program with locations in Rochester, Minnesota and Phoenix, Arizona
Ackerman Cancer Center; Jacksonville, Florida
Maryland Proton Treatment Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Emory Proton Therapy Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Dallas Proton Treatment Center, Dallas, Texas
I sent all my husband's MRI's to doctors , along with a short cover letter. I sent them via a quick delivery method that required a signature of the doctor.
You can easily research which doctor to send it to simply by calling the Proton Center and asking for "the name of the medical doctor who treats benign brain tumors using Proton Therapy. " Then send a letter with your MRI to that doctor and he and his team might do a case review and give you an opinion as to whether you are a good candidate for this treatment.
At the the Proton Center that we ultimately selected, a team of doctors reviewed our case (for free), and then we got a call with their decision that my husband was a good candidate for Proton Beam Treatment. Whether they believe you are a good candidate is case-specific.
Even though you already were told that the tumor is too large for other radiation, you may want to consider sending your MRI for a (usually free) medical review at a Proton Center. You don't know what you will discover and it seems worth a try.
We send you our warmest wishes and sincere hope for a great outcome. Welcome and best to you!
