In The News

Texas Center for Proton Therapy celebrated the final radiation treatment of its 3,000th patient, 16-year-old Walker Huggins, who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. Victor S. Mangona, M.D., who treated Walker, explained that proton radiation therapy was the ideal treatment option for Walker and significantly decreased the side effects the 16-year-old experienced during radiation. Dr. Mangona added that he is glad to work at a facility like Texas Center for Proton Therapy and be able to assist patients like Walker, as the center serves as the first and only proton facility in North Texas that provides access to proton radiation for patients and increases the treatment’s accessibility to those within a closer radius.

Texas Oncology recently broke ground on a new 50,000-square-foot cancer care center in Amarillo that will expand the capacity of the practice in the Panhandle. Expected to open in 2023, the new cancer center will provide medical oncology, hematology, gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, breast radiology, surgical oncology, and colon and rectal surgery services.

The next-generation inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) may be effective in mantle cell lymphoma for patients previously treated with an older BTK inhibitor, according to results from the phase I/II BRUIN trial. M. Yair Levy, M.D., a hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, offered his thoughts on the phase I/II BRUIN study1 for The ASCO Post.

 Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Payer Relations, and Strategic Initiatives at Texas Oncology, addressed how the pandemic influenced cancer screening and diagnosis rates. Dr. Patt noted, we’re starting to see later-stage cancer diagnoses, but right now it’s hard to quantify the true extent, and it may take years to fully comprehend how pandemic-related screening delays led to later-stage cancer diagnoses.

Texas Oncology is set to expand its center in Amarillo to meet the growing need for cancer care in the Texas Panhandle. The expansion will add 50,000-square-feet to the building, which will provide medical oncology, hematology, gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, breast radiology, surgical oncology, and colon and rectal surgery services, as well as will provide patients with access to educational services, genetic risk evaluation and testing, pharmacy services, and support groups.

Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Payer Relations, and Strategic Initiatives at Texas Oncology, addresses considerations for getting a second COVID-19 booster among survivors of breast cancer or patients currently undergoing treatment as well as those who may be immunocompromised. There are several strategies to consider about getting an additional COVID-19 booster, and Dr. Patt notes patients should discuss these options with their doctors.

Walker Huggins, a 16-year-old from Midland, celebrated a major milestone in his cancer fight, becoming the 3,000th patient to receive treatment at Texas Center for Proton Therapy. According to Andrew K. Lee, M.D., medical director at Texas Center for Proton Therapy, the main difference between proton therapy and regular radiation therapy is in the quality of the beam, which minimizes the side effects profile of the treatment for many years to come.

Texas Oncology's appointment of Michael Teneriello, M.D., as chief surgical officer of Texas Oncology Surgical Specialties was noted in a round-up of personnel news in Fierce Healthcare's Chutes and Ladders series.

Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Payer Relations, and Strategic Initiatives at Texas Oncology, explains recommendations for annual mammography screenings after COVID-19 vaccination and why guidelines differ for diagnostic visits. Since lymph nodes tend to swell, Dr. Patt recommends women wait at least six weeks when scheduling a screening mammogram after COVID-19 vaccination and emphasizes diagnostic visits for lumps should not wait.

Leading cancer experts have been sounding the alarm regarding delayed and missed cancer screenings leading to an increase in advanced-stage cancer diagnoses, with worse outcomes than if the cancer had been caught early. For National Cancer Control Month, Mathew Meeneghan, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Bastrop and Texas Oncology–South Austin and Sabarina Ramanathan, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Sugar Land, share how we need to get back on track with recommended cancer screenings. Those who have put off a routine screening, are overdue for an annual exam, or are experiencing concerning symptoms need to schedule an appointment with their healthcare team as soon as possible.