Jennifer Matthews: Jack Eileris trying to forget his health problems. His wife and a trip to this art museum are good distractions.
Jack Eiler: If I can't see it, it doesn't exist, basically an ostrich. So bury your head in the sand, and there won't be a problem.
Jennifer Matthews: Jack has a benign tumor growing near his eye.
Jack Eiler: I'd be perfectly fine in my opinion just to let it alone. I'm really good at being in denial.
Jennifer Matthews: But when he learned it could blind him, he turned to Doctor Wally Curran and a new shaped beam surgery. This system wraps 3D radiation beams around tumors. The beams continuously form to the tumor during treatment, steering clear of healthy tissue.
Wally Curran: Having the flexibility of having the shape of the delivery device change over that period of time is tremendously exciting.
Jennifer Matthews: The Novalis system can treat brain and spine tumors that were once impossible to reach. It also works for liver, lung and prostate tumors. Doctor Curran says it may even help patients with seizures and Parkinson's disease.
Wally Curran: It's tremendous to offer something like this to people particularly if the other options are limited or are not as, not as desirable.
Jennifer Matthews: Jack's alternative was brain surgery, so this was an easy choice. His chance for a cure is 90 percent--news he and his wife are happy to hear.
Jack Eiler: I know these guys down here took care of whatever it is, and I can pull my head back out of the sand and keep marching.
Jennifer Matthews: This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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