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By Kelly Mori, Staff Writer 9:34 PM Saturday, July 24, 2010

Kettering Medical Center’s proposed proton radiation treatment center was not opened in time to treat Natalie Crum’s brain tumor but her family is glad the technology that they hope has destroyed their daughter’s tumor will be available to other families.

The South Charleston teen returned home July 22 after six weeks of proton radiation treatment at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington, Ind. The 12-year-old will know in a few months if the tumor that has rested on her brain stem for 10 years was completely destroyed by the custom-focused radiation treatment she received under the direction of MPRI director of pediatrics and radiation oncology Dr. Andrew Chang.

The tumor, which was discovered when she began to lose mobility at the age of 2, could not be completely removed surgically because of its proximity to the brain stem. If it continued to grow it could wrap around her brain stem and “leave her a vegetable,” her father, Bennie Crum said.

Proton radiation forms the beam to the exact contours of the tumor, Chang said. The beam is also programmed to save its intensity for the tumor only, stopping immediately behind the tumor. Standard radiation is its strongest at the skin and continues to deliver radiation past the tumor site, Chang said.

Side effects are minimized as well. Natalie had no sick days during treatment and attended the Indiana University volleyball camp during her stay.

Kettering Medical Center has been in the planning stages of a center for more than two years, said Kevin Lavoie, spokesman for Kettering Health Network. Kettering is looking at two possible sites for the estimated $80 million center— Kettering Medical Center or at the Austin Road interchange off I-75, Levoie said.

Also in May, a California-based proton treatment developer announced its intention to build a project in partnership with Premier Health Partners, citing the Austin Road interchange as a possible site. Premier spokeswoman Diane Ewing said California-based Optivus is in the process of developing a business plan.

Optivus has also announced intentions to create a proton therapy production center near Dayton.

Natalie’s father Bennie Crum said he was glad to see the technology closer to home.

“If I had to do it all over again and I knew about this kind of treatment I would have gone there,” he said.

Natalie’s tumor is complete dead but will remain swollen for a few weeks, Crum said. Natalie will have her first post-MRI in a month with follow-ups every three months or so.

“We expect to see the tumor shrink (each time),” Chang said.

Natatie’s response to Chang’s prognosis?

“I was happy,” she said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0347 or kmori@coxohio.com.

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