August 25, 2016
Young Patient Becomes First at Mayo to Survive Rare, Aggressive Brain Cancer
By In the Loop
Addyson Cordes is a fighter. Diagnosed at 13 months old with a “rare and aggressive” brain tumor (atypical teratoid rhabdoid), Allyson was put through an equally aggressive treatment plan that included neurosurgery, chemotherapy, and proton beam therapy — all before her third birthday. And today, as KAAL-TV reports,”among the handful of kids treated with this […]
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Tags: Dr. Amulya Nageswara Rao, Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinic, Pediatric Rehabilitation, Proton Beam
June 2, 2016
Anthony’s Gift: After Losing Her Son, Cheryl Bardwell Helps Wrap Other Families in Love
By In the Loop
In his 12 short years, Anthony Bardwell touched almost everyone he met. Often quite literally. “He’d walk into a room and give high-fives, knuckles and hugs,” says Anthony’s mom, Cheryl, of the “sweet and loving” boy who passed away in January from complications of cancer. Anthony was also “the strongest person I ever knew,” Cheryl […]
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Tags: Ben Tempel, Proton Beam
May 19, 2016
‘Tutu Tuesday’ Helps Take the Sting out of Young Cancer Patient’s Treatments
By In the Loop
A lot has been taken from 3-year-old Hannah Keehr during the 14 months she’s undergone treatment for stage IV neuroblastoma: her hair, her high-frequency hearing, and her ability – at least for the time being – to have a normal childhood. But there’s one thing Hannah hasn’t let go of, according to her mom, Christa […]
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Tags: Ben Tempel, Neuroblastoma, Proton Beam, Randy Mc Keeman, Tutu Tuesday
November 5, 2015
Vito Rings the Bell, Ready for Next Act
By In the Loop
Nicole Skaro knew something wasn’t right when the Emergency Department physician came in a fourth time to look at photos she’d taken of her young son, Vito. In the images, he was looking out of the corner of his eyes and holding his head in what she describes as “unnatural, weird” positions. Doctors initially thought […]
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Tags: Brain Tumor, Medulloblastoma, Proton Beam
September 15, 2015
Incredible Hulk Helps Incredible Young Mayo Clinic Cancer Patient
By In the Loop
If 6-year-old Connor Weckworth had a superpower, it would be his will to live, according to his mom, April O’Connor. After emergency brain tumor surgery at the Saint Marys Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital this past summer, Connor woke up and simply “asked for a sandwich,” she says. “Two days later, he was pulling himself […]
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Tags: Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Nancy Heinzelman, Proton Beam
August 6, 2015
“Proton Beam Triplets” Forge Friendships During Cancer Treatment
By In the Loop
Two months ago, they were strangers. Today, Ashley Sullivan, Jessie Brenholt and Kylie Harer call themselves the “proton beam triplets,” sharing a bond not of birth, but of circumstance. The three young women — all in their 20s — share the bond of having been diagnosed with a brain tumor and are among the first […]
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Tags: Cancer, Proton Beam
August 4, 2015
Proton Beam Therapy Patient by Day, Labor and Delivery Nurse by Night
By In the Loop
Audra Popp came to Mayo Clinic as a patient. But one night last month, while out for a walk, the former labor and delivery nurse served as an ad hoc caregiver. Audra, one of the first patients to receive proton beam therapy at Mayo Clinic after the program in Rochester began treating patients in June, […]
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Tags: Cancer, Dr Richard Marsh, Proton Beam
May 26, 2015
A Butcher’s Choice Contribution to Testing Proton Beam’s Pinpoint Accuracy
By In the Loop
John Mullins, Ph.D., knew the request was going to be a bit different. But when the physicist working on Mayo Clinic’s new proton beam technology in Rochester walked into Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe in Rochester, the response he received from the owners was anything but expected. Dr. Mullins came in search of “a variety of […]
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Tags: Dr John Mullins, Proton Beam