Bill Doughtery's Roswell Park Story
When Bill Doughtery retired two years ago and moved from Rochester to Buffalo, his goal was simple: Spend more time with his grandkids. What he didn’t expect was that back pain would lead to a diagnosis that would change everything: acute b-cell lymphoma and smoldering multiple myeloma. Since that time, he’s undergone both chemotherapy and radiation, as well as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for his bladder.
“Unfortunately, I missed a lot of [my grandkid’s] activities — hockey, baseball, everything they’re into. It’s not what we planned for retirement. I guess that’s the old story,” he said.
In March 2026, Bill underwent a new therapy at Roswell Park that met him exactly where he was in his cancer journey, and it’s all thanks to the support of donors like you.
About Adaptive Radiation Therapy
Adaptive Radiation Therapy is a type of external beam radiation therapy that uses an innovative new machine called Ethos™, created by Varian Medical Systems and funded by donor dollars. The new technology uses artificial intelligence software to assess the status, shape, size and position of a tumor and nearby organs, allowing technicians to hone in on the tumor and deliver more precise radiation. Oncologists can personalize doses to each individual patient while better sparing surrounding tissue and organs.
The best part? There’s no inconvenience to the patient.
Tara Tyson, PhD, MS, BS, medical physicist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, says Adaptive Radiation Therapy is making it possible to bring about more personalized treatment.
“The fact that we can bring this level of technology to Buffalo, NY, to treat our patients at the highest level — this is the future, and this is really where radiation medicine is going.”
Tara Tyson, PhD, MS, BS
This innovative new technology is not just a nice-to-have for Bill, but a vital breakthrough. With only one kidney, Bill has to be very careful with his treatments. Using Adaptive Radiation Therapy, Bill’s physicians were able to spare additional damage to his kidney while delivering precise radiation to the tumor.
“This really was, in a way, a lifesaver for me — to get my life back to doing what I want to do, without any more damage to my kidney. It means everything to me,” Bill said.
Looking Toward a Brighter Future
As for what’s next, Bill says he can’t wait to spend time with his grandchildren. That means watching 10-year-old Landon play baseball and hockey, cheering on nine-year-old Aubrielle as she does flips and roots for the home team and witnessing six-year-old Regan dance her heart out. They recently celebrated the birthdays of their two youngest grandkids, Caleb, 3, and Cora, 1.
Bill will remain closely monitored by his oncologists, but he and his wife, Chris are, have already made a trip to Los Vegas to visit their other two grandchildren, RJ, 16, and Emma. They’re looking forward to really making the most out of retirement.
As Bill makes his way through final treatments, he holds gratitude for everyone who has made Adaptive Radiation Therapy possible.
“You never know where your donations go, but this? This is something that directly helped me. Adaptive Radiation Therapy made me more comfortable in wanting to support events and fundraisers, because I can see the results,” he said.
"As we begin this next chapter, I am excited to welcome Shawn Kleitz to our team. Shawn's experience, passion for philanthropy and commitment to advancing cancer research make him the ideal person to build upon Cindy's remarkable legacy and lead the Alliance Foundation into the future."