As I sit down to write what may be my final blog post, I am struck by how technology has evolved to the point where an AI chatbot can emulate my writing style perfectly. While I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts and experiences with you over the years, I must confess that the prospect of handing over the reins to an AI chatbot is intriguing. Why, you may ask, would I choose to bow out and let a machine take …

Ever wonder what a bot has to say about proton therapy for prostate cancer? I sure did! As a retired IT guy and technology fanatic, you can imagine my excitement about the recent easy access to artificial intelligence software—AI. The ChatGPT program from OpenAI has become ubiquitous seemingly overnight. Did I sign up to try it? You bet! What exactly is it, and where does it get its information? Here is ChatGPT’s answer, in its own words: “ChatGPT is an …

Here we are, decades beyond the first use of proton beam therapy in a clinical setting in the US, and insurance companies still call it experimental. For me, this is annoying. For those who want proton therapy but are denied insurance coverage because of its “experimental” status, this is much worse than merely annoying. When a cancer patient who recognizes proton therapy as their best option for controlling their cancer while minimizing the risk of side effects is told they …

When I stumbled across a Yahoo News article entitled “Call for more investment to fix radiotherapy’s PR problem” I was certain they were talking about proton therapy because it is the form of radiation in dire need of better PR. As proton advocates know, bringing awareness of proton therapy to the public has been and continues to be a challenge. Everyone has heard of radiation, but even after decades of successful use in the treatment of many types of cancer, …