The Beam: New superhero comic book for proton therapy patients; our physicians present at ASTRO; meet our new brain cancer specialist

“The Proton Pro-Team” comic book aims to help kids navigate their cancer and treatment

Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s contracted vendor for operation of the cyclotron, Ion Beam Applications, SA (IBA), recently launched a comic book aimed at young patients undergoing proton therapy. (The cyclotron is the machine that makes proton therapy possible.) IBA enlisted the help of well-known comic book writer Steve Englehart, who is credited with helping make Captain America a success and who created the Batman character we know today.

The comic book’s illustrator, Mike Jaszewski, is an artist with a 30-year career in the non-profit and corporate worlds. Jaszewski first hatched the idea of a proton-specific superhero with IBA’s regional sales manager after a physician at one of IBA’s sites had commented that children responded better to him when he wore a superhero T-shirt. Jaszewski had been a fan of Batman since age three and was familiar with Englehart’s work. So, he was very excited when he got to team up with the legend to create this comic book they called “The Proton Pro-Team.” 

The goal of the project was to “transform intricate medical ideas into easy-to-understand visual stories for children undergoing proton therapy,” according to Courtney Itonyo, IBA senior marketing manager, who has been closely involved with the project. 

“What I love most about this comic is its mission to reach and empower our young cancer patient audience in a way that blends art with science to inform and entertain,” she said.

The story follows a young patient as he learns about and receives proton therapy with the help of the superhero Pro-Team: Pro-Tonya, radiation oncologist; Pro-Moe, nurse; Pro-Portia, dosimetrist; Pro-Jenny, medical physicist; and Prometheus, radiation therapist. Throughout the comic book, the Pro-Team explains what will happen during proton therapy, including the destruction of the cancer – in this case, a supervillain named Baron X on Planet Lair. 

As a veteran comic book writer, it took Englehart about two weeks to create the script.

“My goal was to accurately describe what a child is going through, except in superhero format,” he said. “What made it real was the first time I met some of the kids in the hospital. It was very moving to see them dive right into the comics.”

Jaszewski estimates that it took him six to eight months to complete the illustrations.

“I’ve always wanted to illustrate Steve’s scripts, and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing them a disservice,” he said. “It’s very different to visualize someone else’s script than to illustrate your own ideas."

Englehart and Jaszewski hope this comic book helps children facing cancer.

“Proton therapy is really important, especially for children, because it has much less negative impact on healthy tissue,” said Jaszewski. “These kids really do have a team of heroes helping them, and the technology feels like something you’d find in a sci-fi film. Hopefully this will make it easier for them to understand and face their treatment – knowing there is a team behind them.” 

Some copies of the comic book are available in the proton therapy facility lobby.

New learnings shared at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology conference

Several Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Proton Therapy providers attended the conference of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Washington, D.C., in late September. The conference serves as an opportunity for physicians and others in the field to learn the latest research, results and methods in radiation oncology, as well as to network with colleagues from other institutions. Smith Apisarnthanarax, MD, Jing Zeng, MD, Erin Gillespie, MD, MPH, Stephanie Schaub, MD, new medical director, Annemarie Shepherd, MD, and Lia Halasz, MD were among the Fred Hutch providers who moderated panels or presented studies.

Apisarnthanarax presented with Clemens Grassberger, PhD, research associate professor at UW Medicine, on how changes in the albumin-bilirubin score after proton and photon radiotherapy can serve as a measurable marker of radiation-induced liver toxicity.

“This will enable physicians to build better predictive models to identify patients who are already at high risk of radiation-induced toxicity,” said Grassberger. “It’s exciting because it could strengthen the role of proton therapy in liver cancer treatment.”

Zeng led a session called “Beyond Counting on Our Fingers: The Current State and Future Management of Oligometastatic Lung Cancer” about how improved treatment options are helping many patients, including some with metastatic cancer, live longer despite their cancer diagnosis. In recent years, there has been a lot of research about how to best take care of patients who have limited metastatic cancer.

“There is some clinical data suggesting that aggressive radiation or surgery for those patients might help them live longer, which is a new way of thinking about the role of radiation therapy — including proton therapy — in patients with cancer,” said Zeng.

Zeng, along with her colleagues, heard updates on the latest research and clinical trials, which can influence how physicians care for their patients.

Gillespie discussed a recent clinical trial where breast cancer patients were randomly selected to participate in a virtual program to address treatment- and cancer-related fatigue through mind-body exercise, versus “enhanced usual care” (prerecorded sessions). Exercise is a well-established way to mitigate fatigue but many patients with cancer face various barriers to exercising the recommended amount. Gillespie and her team found that patients who participated in the weekly live Zoom classes experienced less fatigue and decreased rates of insomnia, depression and symptom distress. Interviews with participants highlighted class flexibility (both intensity, duration, and location) and connecting to instructors and other patients as important aspects of the program. 

“Virtual mind-body exercise classes, including yoga, appear to offer patients more flexible and convenient options to engage in physical activity during cancer treatment,” said Gillespie. “This may help patients become more empowered and better equipped to navigate through cancer-related fatigue and other associated side effects during and after cancer treatment. More research is needed to understand the mechanism of symptom improvement and generalization to patients treated outside an academic setting.”

In her role as a session moderator, Schaub fielded questions to participants about their thoughts on promoting sustainability and resilience for providers caring for pediatric patients. As a childhood cancer specialist, Schaub knows the emotional landscape of treating children well.

Shepherd also moderated a session focused on lung cancer called "Clinical Trial of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) and Hypofractionation for non-small-cell lung cancer." 

Halasz moderated a session called “Moving Beyond the Beam: Health Services Research in Policy, Practice, and Payment.” She was also selected to be part of the ASTRO press briefing as an expert in central nervous system tumors. 

Halasz, who leads the residency program for radiation oncology at the University of Washington,  always takes the opportunity at conferences to meet with other program directors to discuss their training programs. 

Meet radiation oncologist, Dr. Lisa Ni, who specializes in treating pediatric cancer patients and adults with central nervous system tumors

Our newest radiation oncologist at Fred Hutch, Lisa Ni, MD, began her studies in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Her passion for patient care led her to pursue a career in medicine, where she discovered her calling in oncology. With her engineering background, she was drawn to radiation oncology for its exciting blend of technological innovation and impactful patient care. 

Ni recently completed her residency at University of California, San Francisco, where she focused her clinical care and research on optimizing radiation for patients while minimizing side effects, particularly for patients with brain tumors. As she sought her next position, Ni prioritized joining a collaborative team dedicated to patient care with a strong commitment to research. She found the perfect fit with UW Medicine and Fred Hutch, inspired by her engaging conversations with radiation oncology department chair Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD, and colleagues such as Ralph Ermoian, MD, Stephanie Schaub, MD, and Layne Chapple, ARNP.

Ni treats patients at the proton facility as well as at UW Medical Center – Montlake.

“I’m excited to be able to offer proton therapy to my patients. Being able to provide this option is a significant benefit for patients, as it opens up a range of possibilities for their treatment. I was also incredibly impressed by how well-run the facility is and how warm and welcoming the team here is,” she said.

Returning to the Seattle area is a homecoming for Ni, who spent part of her childhood in Bellevue, Washington. She and her husband — and their Shiba inu — love the activities that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, including hiking, biking, running and camping. Her favorite hiking spot so far is Rattlesnake Ledge, and she looks forward to discovering more trails.

Please welcome Ni to the team when you see her at the proton therapy facility.

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