New Cancer Radiation Therapy Now Available at the Huntsman Cancer Institute

Mountain West is getting its hands on a major new cancer treatment technology that, in the years to come, will help thousands of patients in Utah.

It was certainly good news for Taylor Lambert, who has a rare type of brain tumor called juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, or JPA.

She had it once and had it removed, but it started growing again when she was 23.

As an artist, Lambert is always inspired by something or someone.

With her own experience, she will likely draw unique paintings to tell the story of her journey with the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

“One in a thousand people usually have this type of tumor, but two in four children in my family have had it,” Lambert said.

Being a newlywed, Lambert worried about her future chances of having children one day. With this in mind, doctors recommended treatment with proton therapy. This is new and was recently made available to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Construction of the Senator Orrin G. Hatch Proton Therapy Center was completed just in time for its course of treatment.

It was just an absolute miracle, an absolute blessing that this proton processing center was up and running literally just in time for me, ”said Lambert.

Dr Matthew Poppe, radiation oncologist for Huntsman, said this form of cancer treatment in Salt Lake City is a big deal.

“It’s huge, it’s huge for our patients,” he said. “Over the past 10 years, our patients have driven approximately 12 hours to the next nearest proton center, which is either in Seattle or San Diego.”

Treatment takes between four and six weeks of daily treatment, Poppe explained, so having this form of treatment available gives families more options and relief in trying to figure out the logistics.

Poppe explained that patients undergoing proton therapy generally experience fewer negative side effects and healthy tissue near the tumor has fewer negative impacts from this form of radiation.

Lambert said she was the second person to undergo this treatment at Huntsman’s, and the process wasn’t bad at all.

“They cut you off with this awesome mesh mask that presses against your face. And you stay as still as you can and they blast your head with a loud ray a few times and you listen to music and it’s a good time, ”she said.

Lambert wanted to encourage anyone with a serious diagnosis to stay positive.

“It’s going to be fine,” she said. “Especially if you come to Huntsman, because they are amazing!”