The spot on his neck was noted simply by an ‘X’ from a magic marker. Of course, that was one of the parts of his head and neck area of the young child that you could actually see. Much of the area was wrapped in lead — to prevent the radiation treatment from hitting non-cancerous areas.
The procedure was state-of-the-art at the time. But it seems so outdated today that it’s hard to imagine that it took place during the lifetime of State Sen. Anthony Bucco.
It did.
And when Bucco, now 63, took the mic last week at the groundbreaking for the latest and greatest radiation treatment — the transformative Mevion S250-FIT Proton Therapy System that is coming to Morristown Medical Center — he reflected back on his own cancer journey, one that started when he was a child.
“I was a former patient here, 55 years ago,” he said. “At the age of 8, my parents were given the news that no parent wants to hear: Your child has cancer.”
Bucco recalled how he had his tumor and his thyroid removed. How he came to Morristown for radiation treatment to ensure the cancer wouldn’t return. How he’ll never forget the name of the doctor who performed the procedure, Dr. Sheerer, with one of the first versions of the cobalt machine.
And how glad he is that an 8-year-old of today will not have to go through a similar procedure, one Bucco said has taken a toll on his body ever since.
“To see the advancement in technology that is here (and) to know that we can pinpoint the treatment, not just for adults, but more importantly, for the kids, because the kids are the ones that are going to have to grow … is what it’s all about,” he said.
Bucco’s personal story, which moved the crowd of approximately 150 that had gathered in front of the hospital, personalized the impact of the Mevion S250-FIT Proton Therapy System in a way nothing else could.
Atlantic Health officials explained the uniqueness of the system, noting that Morristown will be just the fourth hospital to have this level of proton therapy in the country when it becomes operational next fall. They expect the system to draw patients from great distances.
And Dr. Eric Whitman, the medical director of the oncology service line at Atlantic Health System, simplified the essence of the procedure.
“When you do traditional radiation treatment, you have an entrance dose, a target dose and an exit dose,” he told BINJE. “Proton physics are different. You can have a reduced entrance dose, and everything gets dumped on the target. There’s no exit dose, so everything around the tumor is spared radiation.
“So, in theory, you can give more radiation without worrying about the areas around it. Think about doing this around the head and neck, where everything’s packed in, or with a breast or prostate.
“Or with kids.”
That’s the part that stuck with Bucco.
“It’s about giving our loved ones a chance at survival, long-term survival,” he said. “So, I couldn’t be prouder to be here. To the donors that have made this possible, thank you, because this is going to save lives and kids are going to have a long-range chance.”
Bucco then offered a heartfelt thank you to the medical professionals of today – and yesterday.
“To the nurses and the doctors and the staff that are here: Thank you for what you do every day,” he said. “You touch people’s lives in ways you’ll never know.”
It was a touching moment. One the audience was not expecting. One Bucco wanted to give.
Bucco told BINJE that he kept it a secret for most of his political career for one simple reason.
“I never wanted anybody to think that I was using my cancer diagnosis or my survival as a mechanism to help me get reelected,” he said. “So, I kept it quiet.”
That idea changed a few years ago.
He was in a senate hearing, listening to pediatric cancer patients discussing their treatment while urging the state to provide more money for funding.
With Bucco leading the way, the state appropriated $10 million in funding.
“When I saw the courage of these kids when they came down to the statehouse, I thought to myself, ‘If they can stand up there with this courage and tell people their story and ask for additional funding and advocate for pediatric cancer research and advocate for more dollars to go into the research area and the treatment area, then it’s okay for me to do it as well,’” he said.
It’s OK, Bucco realized to personalize an issue that is so personal to him and others.
Bucco, however, still tries to tie his words to research and treatment.
“I gave those remarks because it’s important for people to see the whole story, to understand how treatment today can impact lives forever,” he said. “The doctors never thought about the long-range implications and side effects that would impact me as a result of my treatment. Everybody was just ecstatic that they cured the cancer.”
Of course, that still remains the main goal. And not to be confused, Bucco is forever grateful.
“I hope the doctors and nurses heard my words and understood the impact they can have on lives, especially for children,” he said. “That’s why it means the world to me to have this type of treatment available right here in Morris County, right here in my district.”
