The power of protons
Every year, hundreds of cancer patients are treated successfully at the PSI Center for Proton Therapy. Proton radiation is less damaging to surrounding tissue and can be used for precise treatment of tumours in particularly sensitive regions of the body – much to the relief of patients and their families. In this gallery we present five patient stories.
Onwards and upwards
Ute from Malix near Chur was never really keen on sport. In December 2014 a sarcoma was found on her thigh. As the tumour was close to a vital nerve, the tumour tissue could not be entirely removed by surgery. She therefore underwent a six-week course of treatment at the Center for Proton Therapy in April 2015 – and then took up running. Now she takes part in mountain runs and occasionally completes a half-marathon as well.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Ute from Malix near Chur was never really keen on sport. In December 2014 a sarcoma was found on her thigh. As the tumour was close to a vital nerve, the tumour tissue could not be entirely removed by surgery. She therefore underwent a six-week course of treatment at the Center for Proton Therapy in April 2015 – and then took up running. Now she takes part in mountain runs and occasionally completes a half-marathon as well.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Flourishing in the garden
Konrad from St. Urban was treated at the Center for Proton Therapy for 42 days following an operation to remove a tumour from his parotid gland. He was reluctant to go ahead with a more radical operation offered as an alternative. At the same time, he switched to a diet high in vegetables. Today this means he is even happier when his garden produces a bumper harvest.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Konrad from St. Urban was treated at the Center for Proton Therapy for 42 days following an operation to remove a tumour from his parotid gland. He was reluctant to go ahead with a more radical operation offered as an alternative. At the same time, he switched to a diet high in vegetables. Today this means he is even happier when his garden produces a bumper harvest.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Back on the catwalk
Zoe from Unterägeri was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, just before her ninth birthday: a rare type of tumour in the region of her head. She received treatment at the Center for Proton Therapy from October to November. Today she is delighted to be in remission and go along to photo shoots again – she does modelling work in her free time. This year she wants to pass her vocational qualification (Swiss Fachmaturität) and can then decide what subject she wants to study.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Zoe from Unterägeri was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, just before her ninth birthday: a rare type of tumour in the region of her head. She received treatment at the Center for Proton Therapy from October to November. Today she is delighted to be in remission and go along to photo shoots again – she does modelling work in her free time. This year she wants to pass her vocational qualification (Swiss Fachmaturität) and can then decide what subject she wants to study.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Keeping an eye on the road
Paul Joseph from Horgen is a fighter and always looks ahead. That’s good, as his work driving buses and coaches means he always needs to keep an eye on the road ahead. Although officially retired in 2017, he still spends six or seven days a month driving for the bus company AHW-Busbetriebe AG which serves the region on the left bank of Lake Zurich. He is able to do so thanks to successful treatment of a brain tumour at the Center for Proton Therapy.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Paul Joseph from Horgen is a fighter and always looks ahead. That’s good, as his work driving buses and coaches means he always needs to keep an eye on the road ahead. Although officially retired in 2017, he still spends six or seven days a month driving for the bus company AHW-Busbetriebe AG which serves the region on the left bank of Lake Zurich. He is able to do so thanks to successful treatment of a brain tumour at the Center for Proton Therapy.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Always on the ball
Lisa from Adlikon is passionate about football. Even the diagnosis of a tumour in the soft tissue of her neck did not bring her down. Seven weeks of treatment at the Center for Proton Therapy in 2013 was a top result– now her team mates can once again count on the school pupil’s skills as a goal-scorer.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Lisa from Adlikon is passionate about football. Even the diagnosis of a tumour in the soft tissue of her neck did not bring her down. Seven weeks of treatment at the Center for Proton Therapy in 2013 was a top result– now her team mates can once again count on the school pupil’s skills as a goal-scorer.
(Photo: Désirée Good)
Text: Sebastian Jutzi
