George Caporaso will be our guest speaker for March. George will talk about his work as LLNL's lead scientist on the first compact proton therapy system - one that would fit in any major cancer center and cost a fifth as much as a full-scale machine. Proton therapy is considered the most advanced form of radiation therapy available, but size and cost have limited the technology's use to only six cancer centers nationwide.

The technology has grown out of work for nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship; applying this new technology to the field of cancer treatment will make proton therapy widely available as a treatment option. Conventional radiation therapy kills cancer cells using high-energy X-rays. These X-rays deliver energy to all the tissues they travel through, from the point they enter the body, until they leave it. Doctors therefore have to limit the dose delivered to the tumor to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Unlike high-energy X-rays, proton beams deposit almost all of their energy on their target, with a low amount of radiation deposited in tissues from the surface of the skin to the front of tumor, and almost no "exit dose" beyond the tumor. This property enables doctors to hit tumors with higher, potentially more effective radiation doses than is possible with gamma radiation.

Worldwide, there are 25 proton therapy centers in operation. Together, they have treated an estimated 40,000 patients. The compact system is expected to fit in standard radiation treatment suites and to cost less than $20 million.

The luncheons are held at
 
Elk's Lodge
940 Larkspur Dr.
Livermore, California
 
 
Elk's Lodge is located just north of I580 at the First St/Springtown Blvd exit. First Street overpass to Springtown, right at light and then left onto Larkspur, left into parking lot. Click here for a map.

• Mixed Green Salad with Italian Vinaigrette, Tomatoes, Carrots, Onions
• Corned Beef
• Grilled Chicken Legs, Thighs, and Breasts with a Lemon Thyme Sauce

• Irish Boiled Potatoes
• Vegetables
• Rolls with Butter
• Brownie Bites
• Coffee, Water, Iced Tea