Letter to the Editor

The gratitude I have for each member of that research team as well as to every doctor and technician administering the program is so great.

Twelve years ago, I entered treatment at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute to attempt to eradicate a rather aggressive form of prostate cancer. It worked and to this day, now as an 86-year-old survivor, all my bodily functions continue to be functioning, which would not have been the case had I chosen a surgical approach rather than request Dr. Henderson to attack my cancer tumor with the proton therapy approach that had been developed by the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute research team.   

Because I have a rather extensive background in science education, I have something of a rather thorough love of the science areas which UF Health Proton Therapy Institute has developed in its research. I was able to understand much of what was accomplished during those sessions when I was placed on the table and the technicians introduced the proton beam through the specialized acrylic filter necessary to focus the proton beam into the specific areas of my prostate where the cancer had been identified.

The entire procedure was well beyond my ability to totally understand, however, having the ability to grasp some of the procedure brought home the incredible amount of research that the team had developed to assist me in understanding a good deal of the process. 

The gratitude I have for each and every member of that research team as well as for every doctor and technician administering the program is so great, not just saving my bodily functions, but for their research, and of course for also saving my life. Even after 12 years after those daily sessions there on Jefferson Street, I am reminded of the kind of medical miracle that the team was responsible for saving so many aspects of my life. 

Having a master’s degree in Biological Sciences brings home on almost a daily basis just how fortunate I was and still am for having discovered the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute that has meant so much to me as well as to so many individuals over the years. 

I know from my own experience that a friend was so instrumental in my discovery of proton therapy treatment at the Institute. Thank you to him and thank you to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute that has saved so many individuals throughout the years.

Best regards,
Peter Blaauboer