7-year-old becomes Stanford's first proton therapy patient, showcasing breakthrough in cancer treatment accessibility
By
Grant Stringer
Summary
Article profiles Stephen De La Torre, a 7-year-old boy who became the first patient to receive proton therapy at Stanford Medicine using a new, compact treatment device. Diagnosed with a rare brain stem tumor, his case highlights how this advanced radiation technology — which precisely targets tumors while sparing healthy tissue — is now more accessible by fitting into standard treatment rooms rather than requiring massive, custom-built facilities. The piece explains the medical significance of proton therapy for pediatric and complex cancers, the technological breakthrough that enabled its wider deployment, and the personal story of Stephen and his family navigating his diagnosis and treatment.
Source
bsky7-year-old becomes Stanford's first proton therapy patient, showcasing breakthrough in cancer treatment accessibilitymercurynews.comKey quotes
· 5 pulled'It's a huge milestone for us,' said Dr. Susan Hiniker, a radiation oncologist at Stanford Medicine who treated De La Torre. 'We've been working toward this for a long time.'
'The proton beam can be shaped to the exact contour of the tumor, and it stops at the tumor — it doesn't go beyond,' said Dr. Billy Loo, a professor of radiation oncology at Stanford.
'For children, this is especially important because their brains are still developing, and we want to minimize the amount of radiation to healthy brain tissue,' Hiniker said.
'We were scared, but we knew we had to do whatever it took to save his life,' said Stephen's mother, Maria De La Torre.
'This technology allows us to treat more patients in a more convenient setting, and that's a game-changer,' Loo said.
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