From cancer care professional to patient: Two-time survivor chooses proton therapy at UT MD Anderson

After spending more than four decades in radiation oncology, Randy Hemingway never expected to become a patient himself.

Over the course of his career, he worked in dosimetry, medical physics, administration and commercial product management, building a unique perspective on cancer treatment. He also helped launch one of the first proton therapy centers in Washington, D.C.

He spent years tracking advances in radiation oncology and followed emerging research on intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), including studies led by radiation oncologist Steven Frank, M.D., who specializes in treating head and neck cancers.

Then, cancer became personal.

A colorectal cancer diagnosis

After experiencing irritable bowel symptoms, Randy scheduled a colonoscopy. Pandemic-related delays postponed the procedure for 6 months, causing the tumor to double in size. When physicians finally performed the exam, they found a rectal tumor. This delay caused a difference between a stage 2 versus a stage 1 diagnosis.

Randy reached out to a colleague who recommended a short course of proton therapy followed by surgery in Washington, D.C. The treatment significantly shrank the tumor.

After surgery, he completed 12 weeks of chemotherapy and struggled with significant side effects including nausea and fatigue. The experience gave him a new appreciation for the physical and emotional challenges cancer patients face.

Facing a second cancer diagnosis: HPV-related tonsil cancer

Shortly after returning from a Thanksgiving cruise in 2025, Randy developed a persistent sore throat and assumed it was due to the weather. When the symptoms lingered, an urgent care provider prescribed an antibiotic and led Randy to an ENT to undergo a biopsy of his tonsils.

In December 2025, he received an unrelated cancer diagnosis: early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

He immediately began evaluating treatment options. Years of experience had already familiarized him with Frank’s research and expertise in treating oropharyngeal cancers. Randy knew that he wanted to receive treatment at UT MD Anderson because of its reputation as the top cancer hospital in the nation and Frank’s expertise in proton therapy.

“I already knew the data from the recent UT MD Anderson led Phase III proton therapy trial published in The Lancet, that showed a significant survival benefit for patients with oropharyngeal cancers who were treated with proton therapy (IMPT),” says Randy. “For my type of cancer, proton therapy at UT MD Anderson made sense.”

On New Year’s Eve of 2026, Randy traveled to Houston for his first appointment with Dr. Frank at UT MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center. After reviewing his case, Frank and his team recommended intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). IMPT is one of the most advanced forms of proton therapy. It delivers a precise dose of protons to tumors embedded in the nooks and crannies of the head and neck, including the base of the tongue and tonsils.

Choosing proton therapy at UT MD Anderson

Traditional radiation therapy would have exposed a larger portion of Randy’s mouth and throat to radiation. Proton therapy allowed the team to target the tumor and affected lymph nodes while protecting healthy tissues on the opposite side of his mouth.

“Dr. Frank is a man after my own heart,” says Randy. “He believes in doing studies and moving the field forward, and that's what sets him apart.”

Randy completed 33 proton therapy sessions over seven weeks.

Before treatment, the tumor made swallowing painful. During treatment, he continued eating most foods, maintained his weight and stayed active.

He avoided spicy foods and experienced some discomfort, but he never lost weight. In fact, he gained two pounds. His appetite and desire to eat were driven by the unexposed left side of his mouth, with minimal sensitivity to the treated side of his mouth.

Most importantly, he kept his sense of taste. “Over half of my taste buds were never affected,” he says. “I could still enjoy food throughout treatment.”

He also avoided many of the side effects commonly associated with head and neck radiation, including dry mouth.

Randy hopes more patients gain access to innovative treatments that improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment.

“Improving outcomes while reducing side effects remains the goal,” says Frank. “That’s what drives us to continue advancing cancer care for our patients.”

A supportive care team

Throughout treatment, his care team earned his trust and admiration.

Nurse practitioner Ian Moore, along with the radiation therapists and clinical staff, offered consistent support and encouragement. Radiation therapists Adam Chau, Ajay Ramdeholl, Catherine Scheifler, Mey Chou, Stephanie Bazille and Courtney Vogelsang helped coordinate appointments around important events and greeted him each day with a smile.

“Those relationships matter when you’re going through treatment,” says Randy. “The team was exceptional.”

Traveling for the best care

Not long after he completed proton therapy, physicians diagnosed his wife, Barbara, with B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Confident in their experience at UT MD Anderson, the couple traveled from their home in Ohio to Houston for her care.

The decision to travel to Houston for her care – and his – was simple.

“It’s your life,” Randy advises others facing cancer. “Do your homework. Find out who provides the most progressive care and the best treatment options. For me, making that trip was absolutely worth it.”

Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.