The Beam: 5,000th graduate celebration, the benefits of dark chocolate and meet Tina McCoy

Fred Hutch celebrates a milestone for proton therapy: 5,000 graduates

On Friday, Jan. 19, four-year-old Lucia finished proton therapy for childhood cancer. She was the facility’s 5,000th graduate since it opened in March 2013.

“It was such a pleasure to care for Lucia,” said her provider, Ralph Ermoian, MD. “She is an amazingly joyful and resilient girl who raised the spirits of everyone she met. Seeing her on Thursday mornings for check-in visits was often the highlight of my day.”

Lucia’s family commuted from Mount Vernon, Washington, for proton therapy for a second bout of cancer. Her graduation was a milestone not just for her, but for the facility, doctors and staff, as well.

“This milestone could not have been achieved without the excellent staff,” said Director of Proton Therapy Randall McClure. “Everyone has contributed to the success of this place and the healing of our patients. I cannot thank you all enough.”

“Our center is proud to have served 5,000 patients with the most advanced proton therapy technology,” said Jing Zeng, MD, medical director of proton therapy. “The field of medicine is always advancing and we are continuing to innovate as well, to ensure we are able to provide the latest technology to our next 5,000 patients.”

Fred Hutch plans to continue to improve access to proton therapy as well as the facility itself with upgrades to software and hardware.

To celebrate the milestone, staff brought “5,000 Strong” cookies and M&Ms and decorated the lobby with balloons. Below are a few photos of Lucia and her family celebrating the event with proton staff.

The benefits of dark chocolate

— by Laura Buono, RD, CSO, CNSC

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a heart-shaped box of chocolates. And the good news is that chocolate has some healthy qualities — when consumed in moderation, of course!

Chocolate is derived from cacao tree pods. After the pods are picked from the tree, the beans are removed, fermented, dried, roasted and then cracked to reveal the small “nibs” in the bean shell. These nibs are then ground into a paste — called chocolate liquor — and this is when chocolatiers add sugar, milk and flavors to make the delicious confection so many people enjoy. 

There are many chocolate varieties including milk, white and dark, and each contain different amounts of chocolate liquor, cocoa solids (which are separated from the liquor in the grinding process), milk and sugar. Dark chocolate has less sugar and milk, making it richer in cacao content. In fact, dark chocolates can contain about 50% to 90% cacao, while milk chocolate may only contain 10% to 50% cacao and white chocolate has none.

Cacao is packed with flavonoids which are a type of phytonutrient found in many plant foods.

Flavonoids are broken down into six subclasses and cacao falls into the group called flavanols. Our gut bacteria break down flavonoids to produce short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs, which are a source of fuel for our gut bacteria. This helps to keep our gut microbiome healthy and diverse. The SCFAs produced can also be absorbed into our bodies to provide additional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

There is some research that suggests including flavanols in your diet through whole food sources such as chocolate can help to prevent insulin resistance and regulate blood pressure and lipid levels. 

Because we know it’s best to limit added sugar in our diet, opt for getting your flavanols from the darkest chocolates, unsweetened cocoa powder or cocoa nibs. You can add them to a smoothie or your morning oatmeal! 

Remember, when it comes to phytonutrients in general, it’s best to eat a variety of plant foods to maximize the benefits. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and peas all contain different phytonutrients that are beneficial for cancer prevention.

Here are a couple of easy recipes from Fred Hutch’s Cook for Your Life that you can enjoy on Valentine’s Day, or any other day of the year!

• Chocolate dipped fruit
• Avocado chocolate mousse

Meet Tina McCoy, our new patient access team coordinator lead

Tina McCoy has joined the proton therapy facility as the team coordinator lead.

Originally from Whitefish, Montana, McCoy moved to Seattle with her husband, Danny, about seven years ago to be closer to Danny’s hometown of Redmond, Washington. McCoy attended Lake Washington Institute of Technology to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in public health with a specialization in community health. 

Always passionate about health and wellness, McCoy has also been a personal trainer and a volunteer with Byrd Barr Food Bank, Mary’s Place and the King County Needle Exchange. After receiving her degree, she knew she wanted to work at Fred Hutch.

“I work closely with many of our staff, ensuring that patients have the smoothest possible experience while undergoing treatment,” said McCoy. “My primary duties include treatment and on-treatment-visit scheduling, chemotherapy coordination, treatment room management and overseeing the day-to-day operations and workflow of our team.”

McCoy also has a personal connection to cancer.

Her father died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was 15, which makes her work at Fred Hutch feel extra meaningful. It’s why she appreciates the patients so much, calling them “the heart and soul of the place.” McCoy said she loves hearing their personal stories and seeing them succeed. She also loves the staff she works with.

“Our dream team here at the proton facility is certainly one of the highlights of my job. Getting to work alongside such caring, thoughtful and dedicated individuals is truly an honor and I’ve learned so much during my time here.”

Outside of work, McCoy has many hobbies. She’s a foodie and spends a lot of time whipping up healthy recipes and checking out new local restaurants. She and her husband spend the summers hiking, taking road trips to Montana and enjoying sunset picnics at Volunteer and Gas Works parks. She also loves to read and catch electronic concerts at Neumos, a Seattle music venue, and is currently learning how to DJ.

Please say “hi” when you see her.

Subscribe to our monthly proton therapy newsletter

Get once-a-month updates about proton therapy, including science and medicine news, survivor stories, staff profiles and more.