Oklahoma Proton Center: Fighting Cancer With Oklahomans For 15 Years

Proton therapy isn’t new and for cancer patients here in Oklahoma it is without question making a difference.

“When this center opened, it was the first independent proton center in the country,” said Oklahoma Proton Center Chief Development Officer David Raubach.

The Oklahoma Proton Center, located at 5901 West Memorial Road, has been putting Oklahoma on the cutting edge of proton therapy.

“When we opened we were the sixth proton center in the country, now there are over fifty centers, so this center was one of the early pioneers in the field of proton therapy,” said Raubach.

They treated their first patient in August of 2009, and fifteen years later the impact reached far beyond the Oklahoma border.

“We’ve treated over five thousand patients, we’ve had patients come from all fifty states around the country, fifteen different foreign countries,” said Raubach.

With a facility of this caliber, it becomes an attraction to some of the top oncologists in the world.

“I was always taught cure is only important if they can have a good quality of life afterward,” said Dr. John Chang with the Oklahoma Proton Center.

Dr. Chang has been with the Oklahoma Proton Center for four years and is considered one of the best in this field of medicine.

“It is my passion. I really love the fact that I can provide this for my patients,” said Chang.

Jeff Murray was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010.

“Well, I had forty-four treatments. I’d come in every day, I’d leave city hall about three o’clock, come up here about three thirty, get my treatment about four thirty and never missed a day of work,” said Murray.

Thanks to the proton center he is cancer free.

“The opportunity to ring that bell is just an indicator of, I’ve done this, I’ve completed, my journey is finished,” said Murray.

“It’s even better when I see them back for follow-ups, knowing that they are feeling good,” said Chang.

The compassion of the Proton Center is to provide treatment for everyone insured and uninsured.

“We try to ensure that every patient that comes here has access to the facility regardless of their particular situation or what’s happening with insurance,” said Raubach.

The Proton Pals Foundation was started by a group of former patients to help patients of the center by purchasing gas cards, meals, hotel stays, and even payment for services to the center. For information about the foundation visit www.protonpalsfoundation.org  for information about the Oklahoma Proton Center visit www.okcproton.com