Innovative Clinical Care and Impact

Miami Cancer Institute 2020 Philanthropy Impact Report

Innovative Clinical Care and Impact

Miami Cancer Institute is the only cancer center in the U.S. to offer patients the most comprehensive array of advanced radiological treatment options, including proton therapy – a sophisticated form of radiation that destroys cancer cells with great precision while avoiding damage to healthy tissue. In 2017, Miami Cancer Institute was the first center in South Florida to offer proton therapy. Within two years, by November 2019, the Institute had completed treatments for over 500 patients –nearly 100 of which were pediatric cancer cases.

Olga Alarcon 500th Proton Therapy Patient and Breast Cancer Survivor

Joined by their families and physicians, over 300 patients past and present were invited to celebrate this major milestone with a special luncheon held at Miami Cancer Institute, made possible through the generosity of our donors.

“Now that I completed my treatment I feel new. I feel like I can give a second chance not only to my children and my husband but also to myself.”

– Olga Alarcon

Miami Cancer Institute’s Proton Therapy Center continues to improve its capabilities. Over the past year, the center began using a new dose-calculation algorithm known as the Monte Carlo method. This new algorithm allows us to expand proton therapy treatment to other disease sites and sets us up to treat tumors in locations where movement inside the body impacts tumor position. An example of this includes the lungs, where tumor location changes as the lungs expand and contract.

In addition to proton therapy, Miami Cancer Institute offers radiation therapy technologies including TrueBeam STx, Tomotherapy, Cyberknife, MR-Linac and Gamma Knife, making it one of the only facilities in the world to offer every form of leading-edge radiation technologies under one roof.

Miami Cancer Institute 2020 Philanthropy Impact Report

Innovative Clinical Care and Impact

Teresa Gutierrez, a Founder within Baptist Health Foundation’s Giving Society and mother of two in Miami, has a condition known as fibrocystic breasts – a non-cancerous condition in which breasts develop thickened tissue that makes them feel lumpy. Staying on top of her health is important to her, and she has received an annual mammogram and ultrasound for close to 30 years.

In March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Teresa felt a lump, but instinctively knew this one felt different. Upon completing further imaging during her appointment at Miami Cancer Institute, she received devastating news: she was diagnosed with Stage 2 HER2 Triple Positive cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. On April 14, the 17th birthday of her twin sons, Teresa underwent her first chemotherapy treatment. She recalls the symbolism of starting treatment on her sons’ birthday, saying, “I went in there to fight the fight for them as a mother, for myself of course, but I kept my eyes on the prize, which was my boys.” Her team of physicians at the Institute put together a clear plan for Teresa. Medically speaking, she knew she was going to be in terrific hands, but Teresa was also seeking a level of compassionate care during her cancer journey. She knew she would receive it at Baptist Health. “I find that Baptist is a family. I found that there are some brilliant doctors out there, but beyond a brilliant doctor, at least for me, I needed some compassion sprinkled in with that and I wanted a community to help me during this challenging year,” she says. Teresa recalls how difficult it was to not have any family or friends near her side because of the COVID-19 restrictions prohibiting visitors from entering the Institute. But at no point during her journey did she feel alone thanks to the extraordinary care and attention she received from the caregivers and staff at Miami Cancer Institute. She describes her experience at the Institute as a perfect blend of Western and Eastern medicine – taking the best of modern advances and cuttingedge technology and combining it with a therapeutic mind-body environment as part of the Patient Support Center. The Center, like other programs at the Institute, is supported by philanthropy. Stories like Teresa’s remind us of the power of philanthropy and the importance of giving back to help improve the outcomes of those we serve. “Giving is something I’ve always done,” she says. “I hope I’ve instilled that moral compass in my children to let them know that life is precious, life is a gift. And each day, you can just put a smile on someone’s face, offer words of encouragement and then extend it to a broader platform and give – give to your community.”