Concordia University men's basketball head coach Tyler Jones comes from a strong family history of prostate cancer. "My dad had it, his brothers, and so did my older brother. When the doctor told me, it was a surreal day." That day was May 11, 2011. And thanks to the CDH Proton Center, A ProCure Center in Warrenville, by October of that same year, his treatment was complete.
"My dad and brother underwent radiation, and a couple uncles had surgery, so those were the two options I'd been most aware of. I saw those treatments take a lot out of people. Being a young [48-year-old] guy, I didn't want to deal with the risks of side effects like impotence and incontinence." So Coach Jones researched every treatment option available. That's how he discovered proton therapy, a cutting-edge, advanced cancer treatment. "It was a slam dunk. Proton therapy seemed to suit my lifestyle and quality of life. Plus, it's non-invasive, and most importantly, it works."
Proton therapy is an extremely precise form of radiation treatment that is scientifically proven to cause less damage to surrounding healthy tissue. That translates to a lower risk of side effects, including erectile dysfunction and incontinence. That way, you can keep living the life you’re used to. For Coach Jones, that meant he was able to keep up with his active daily routines, and he didn't miss any time with his team.
Coach Jones was also impressed with the inviting atmosphere of the state-of-the-art facility. "The building and staff are welcoming, and there’s a feeling of success." Each patient is assigned a physician to address any concerns or questions, and that relationship helps create a comfortable experience. So when patients go in for their treatments, they know exactly what to expect.
"The therapy treatment itself, it lasts about 90 seconds. You are usually in and out, start to finish, in under an hour." After treatments, Coach Jones went on with his day as usual. “In the afternoon, I was working out and focusing on my team. If I didn't tell them I had prostate cancer, the guys would have never known."
On October 7, 2011, Coach Jones finished his proton therapy treatment. Since then, he has experienced minimal side effects, and is working and coaching as normal. The CDH Proton Center, A ProCure Center is dedicated to a comfortable patient experience. "They make you feel like a person. Not a cancer patient."
For more about Coach Jones' ProCure experience, watch his interview from ESPN's Outside The Lines below.
Proton Therapy
Source: WJFW-TV (NBC) Date: 9/26/2011
Basketball Coach Tells Team He Has Prostate Cancer on ESPN
Source: Chicago Tribune Date: 9/12/2011
Cancer Candor
Source: ESPN Outside the Lines Date: 9/6/2011