- Home>
- IU Health Proton Therapy Center Patient Testimonials>
- Volleyball Player is Served with Proton Therapy
Volleyball Player is Served with Proton Therapy
"Before our doctors in Ohio told us about proton therapy, we didn't know it existed." -- Regina Crum, Natalie's mom
Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, first diagnosed at 2 years old
Twelve-year-old Natalie Crum of Ohio spent part of the 2010 summer in Bloomington, Ind., where she toured a local artists’ colony, picked up some new skills at an Indiana University volleyball camp and spent hours swimming in a resort pool — all while undergoing treatment for a brain tumor (a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma) at the then Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute (now IU Health Proton Therapy Center).
The soon-to-be-sixth grader was the 1,000th patient to complete treatment at the proton therapy facility. Doctors in Columbus, Ohio, referred Natalie to the Proton Therapy Center because sparing healthy tissue such as bone and brain from radiation is so critical, especially when treating children. The goal in treating Natalie was to make sure her tumor would not grow and to minimize the risks of radiation therapy. With proton therapy, there is the ability to reduce the long-term risks of developing a secondary cancer years later, as well as the risk of developmental and growth delays that are more likely with conventional X-ray radiation.
Natalie’s Story
When she was just two years old, Natalie was diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumor called an astrocytoma.
“She wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning and on a lot of days, she would throw up and then be fine the rest of the day,” says her mother Regina. “Some people thought she was just fussy, but I knew there was something wrong.”
When a CT scan revealed a tennis-ball sized tumor at the base of her skull near the brain stem, surgeons operated immediately, removing about 70 percent of the mass.
“The rest of the tumor was too close to the brain stem and couldn’t be removed,” explains Natalie’s father Bennie. “We were told it may grow back to the same size or do nothing.”
For the next 10 years, Natalie underwent regular MRIs of her brain to monitor the remnants of the tumor. In early 2010, the MRI scan revealed the tumor was again growing and physicians at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio suggested a visit to to the Proton Therapy Center. The family met with the physicians and staff during their spring break, and they
“The medical team was confident that they ould get rid of Natalie's tumor,” says Bennie. “There were no negatives to proton therapy. It was all good.”
The Best Treatment Option
While Bennie was ready to schedule the treatment immediately, Regina needed a little more convincing. She spent hours reading online and e-mailing the onocology team with “what-if” questions.
“Our physician handed us his business card with his e-mail and phone number,” says Bennie. “What other doctor does that? You can e-mail him anytime of day and he gets right back to you.”
Convinced that proton therapy was their daughter’s best treatment option, the Crums scheduled Natalie’s treatment – 30 proton therapy sessions over six weeks – to begin June 9.
A Piece of Cake and Music Too
“The hospitality was great at the Proton Therpay Center,” says Bennie. “Before we started, the staff walked us through the process and showed us how they line up the target. After that, I knew I wasn’t going to worry anymore.”
After having tiny metal balls called fiducial markers implanted in her skull and on a tooth (that would be removed later) to help radiation therapists position Natalie on the treatment table, she was ready to go.
“When Natalie found out all that she had to do was lay there during treatment, it was a big relief,” says Bennie. “She thought that was a piece of cake.”
Natalie also liked the fact that she could pick her own music for treatment sessions, each of which lasted just 30-45 minutes. The only problem was that Natalie, a jazz and ballet dancer, could not listen to her favorite – Michael Jackson – because his music made her want to move.
“She’s a warrior,” says Bennie. “She didn’t complain, and she knows that proton therapy is going to make her better.”
Life in Bloomington
After Natalie’s treatment sessions, the Crums made the most of the rest of their weekdays in Bloomington, exploring the surrounding area and swimming at the golf resort where they rented a condominium. With the help of the Proton Therapy Center staff and the generous IU Women’s Volleyball program, Natalie participated in a volleyball camp at Indiana University.
On weekends, the Crum family returned home to spend time with their other children, Brooke and Ben. Each week, a new visitor – including her best friend and grandmother – would accompany Natalie back to Bloomington. Only the family cat Silas made every trip back and forth, so Natalie would never be without her favorite pet.
The entire experience has made the Crums strong advocates for proton therapy.
“Every day, we would check out the out-of-state license plates in the parking lot,” says Bennie. “We would see Florida and California and think ‘Look how far people have to come to the Proton Therapy Center, and we live just 3 ½ hours away.’”
Adds Regina, “Before our doctors in Ohio told us about proton therapy, we didn’t know it existed. I hope Natalie can help put a face on proton therapy and help others learn about this treatment option.”
“This is the wave of the future right here,” says Bennie.