CRCC TomoTherapy Patient Testimonial
Mr. David Jacobs
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Cancer type: Squamos Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
Upon completion of the TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® treatment wing of Carolina Regional Cancer Center (CRCC) in July 2008, cancer patients in the Grand Strand area gained a highly effective and state-of-the-art ally to help them in their battles against cancer.
More than a year later, the TomoTherapy unit at CRCC has treated hundreds of patients and helped to improve the quality of life for those dealing with many forms of cancer that include prostate, colorectal, head and neck, lung, brain tumors and various other types. TomoTherapy, with its precision, is also an effective tool for re-treating some cancerous areas that were previously untreatable with radiation. The unparalleled accuracy and versatility of the TomoTherapy treatment system continues to provide hope for those battling cancer.
Such is the story of Myrtle Beach resident David Jacobs who was first treated at CRCC in October 2008 for a large, cancerous lesion on his scalp called squamos cell carcinoma. For four years, Mr. Jacobs neglected treating the cancer on his head as he was focused on providing care for his ill wife. Without treatment, the lesion grew extensively and soon covered the majority of his scalp. This resulted in an open wound that was too large to be treated with a skin graft and in desperate need of medical attention.
At the time of treatment, Mr. Jacobs was a healthy 94-year-old male with no reported family history of cancer. In the last 10 years, he has had multiple skin cancers removed but was in otherwise excellent health and leading an active lifestyle for his age.
Arriving at CRCC, Mr. Jacobs was greeted by a staff of dedicated professionals ready to support and encourage him as he began his treatment. The nursing staff immediately began cleaning and caring for the cancerous lesion. Dr. Stephen Andrews of CRCC consulted with Mr. Jacobs to determine the best course of treatment.
After the initial meetings, Dr. Andrews determined that Mr. Jacobs would be an excellent candidate for the TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® treatment system due to both the accuracy of the treatment and the ability to alter the Tomo machine to ensure the proper dosage and positioning of the radiation every time. Such a large lesion would be difficult to treat with standard radiation due to its size and proximity to the brain. Mr. Jacobs began receiving TomoTherapy treatment on his scalp and was treated 5 days a week for a total of 33 treatments.
The positive effects of the TomoTherapy treatment became visible within the first week of treatment as the cancerous lesion rapidly began to decrease in size and the open wounds began to heal. In all, Mr. Jacobs only needed a small break of five days to rest during his treatment, which allowed healthy tissue to heal. As the end of his treatment neared, the lesion on his scalp had reduced by 75 percent and there were no visible signs of the tumor.
In December 2008, Mr. Jacobs completed his TomoTherapy treatment, responding wonderfully to the radiation. Continued visits with Dr. Andrews showed that the cancerous lesion on his scalp regressed significantly and follow-up visits displayed only a small, raised area of nodularity which was suspicious for some residual skin cancer. This area was then treated on CRCC’s superficial radiation machine, which is designed to treat smaller areas of skin. In the case of Mr. Jacobs, it was able to effectively radiate the remaining cancerous lesion on his head. Upon completing the superficial radiation therapy and a course of antibiotics, Mr. Jacobs showed only small, spotted areas of scabbing that continue to heal. His condition and health have improved dramatically. Follow up visits with Mr. Jacobs show dramatic healing and each visit serves as a testimony to the effectiveness of the TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® treatment system and the specialized care provided by Dr. Andrews and the entire CRCC staff. Mr. Jacobs just had a 95th birthday party and started to volunteer at the local branch of the Red Cross.
The pictures below were taken during the course of Mr. Jacob’s treatment at the Carolina Regional Cancer Center. If you have any questions or would like to speak with a physician at CRCC to discuss treatment options, please call 877-460-2657 or, locally at, 843-449-9415.
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Carolina Regional Cancer Center
4708 Oleander Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
