New cancer treatment soon to be available in Hampton Roads

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. (WAVY.com) -- One of the most expensive and high tech cancer treatments will soon be available in Hampton Roads.

Hampton University is building a Proton Therapy Institute, and 10 On Your Side got an exclusive look inside. We got to see how it works and how it's saving the lives of people like 2-year- old Jacob Ralston of Virginia Beach.

Jacob's mom says he woke up one morning and was paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors found a large tumor on his spine and diagnosed him with a rare cancer.

Jacob's parents had never heard of the type of cancer he was diagnosed with, let alone the proton therapy that would destroy it.

"Our father in law called and begged us, begged us to consider proton," said Susan Ralston.

The Ralston's needed proof, and so did 10 On Your Side.

We flew to the University of Florida Proton Therapy Center in Jacksonville to get a first hand look at how it works.

Medical Director Nancy Mendenhall, M.D. says children have the most to gain from this treatment because their growing bodies are very sensitive to radiation.

Conventional radiation can damage healthy cells and organs while killing cancer cells. Protons, she explained, go straight to the cancer and explode on impact.

She says that helps to protect children and others with inoperable brain and neck tumors.

But 10 On Your Side discovered that men like Bob Harris, with prostate cancer, are benefiting in the largest numbers.

Harris says his doctor in Virginia Beach wouldn't do surgery because he's over 60 and he was adamantly opposed to other treatments that posed risks of incontinence and impotence.

"Oh no, uh uh , no way Jose, that is not going to happen." said Harris.

He had two months of treatment and came home cancer-free with no side effects.

The only down side for the Ralstons - that they had to go all the way to Houston, Texas for Jacob's treatments - was a small price to pay for life.

Jacob's mom says he too has no organ damage from the treatment, and is on track to a full recovery.