From the March 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


Pediatric patients with head and neck tumors are widely regarded as top candidates for proton therapy. For Eastman, getting to know the children being treated at S. Lee Kling was one of the most powerful and emotionally moving aspects of his experience. “When you have radiation appointments, you set it up for all visits at the same time every day, so it’s always the same people before and after you,” says Eastman. “Seeing those same children every day was hard. Their parents were worried and they were scared.”

A brighter future
Looking back, Eastman says there are two key takeaways. “One, I’m so blessed that this technology is right where I live. And two, I have been under the treatment of the best care team in the world, who knew just how to treat me and gave me the opportunity to be with my family, do what I love, and just live.”
At Eastman’s request, he extends his thanks in particular to Paula, Nikki, Matt, Shari, Chris, Dot, Mary Kay, Kimberly and Dr. Clifford Robinson. All of whom were vital members of his care team, in positions ranging from technicians to nurses to administrators at S. Lee Kling.

Eastman advises anyone considering proton therapy to be advocates for their own health and participate actively in determining what course of treatment will be right for them. “You have to ask the right questions,” he says, “There’s no reason in this day and age to be an ignorant patient.”

“It’s just a very positive thing that’s happening,” says Bradley, who looks forward to the next year of treating patients and advancing new techniques to save lives. He says an in-room CT scanner is on the horizon for S. Lee Kling, which will improve tumor localization for the patients still to come.

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