Proton Therapy

[Btaylor396]

Unfortunately many are not aware of the use of proton radiation therapy for eliminating the cancer. If you've been diagnosed, I strongly suggest you consider this method. I chose this and the entire process, results were outstanding without any negative side effects.

[MikeMit]

Btaylor396...Glad to hear Proton therapy was good for you. I was diagnosed in 2011. After researching treatments I chose CyberKnife. Had 5, 45 minute treatments, and like you absolutely no side effects. It worked for me, 5 years still Cancer-Free. PSA 0.2 God Bless us all.

[Jim48185 in reply to MikeMit]

Hi Btaylor, Where did you have your Therapy at?  I had Proton Therapy at M D Anderson in Houston, Texas in Nov an Dec of 2011. No side effects an cancer free. Always good to hear from another who had Proton Therapy. Hope you tell everyone about how good it is.

Michigan Jim

[Btaylor396 in reply to Jim48185]

I had it in Jacksonville FL. Glad you're doing well.

[Jim48185 in reply to Btaylor396]

All the men I talk to that were there at the same time as me are all doing good an cancer free with no side effects. Wish more men would think about Proton Therapy before having their prostates cut out.

Michigan Jim

[dirtfisher in reply to Btaylor396]

I had Proton Therapy in Knoxville, TN.  At the Provision Center for Proton Theraphy. Finished last August 14. No side effects or collateral damage. After 6 months PSA had dropped to 1.00. Go back in Aug for yearly checkup.

[AlanLawrenson in reply to MikeMit]

I had PBT at the National Cancer Centre in Seoul, South Korea in 2013. All good. They charge far less than the US centres as do the clinic in Prague, Czech Republic.

[Jim48185 in reply to AlanLawrenson]

Hi Alan, Would like to hear about your experience and is PBT the same as Proton Therapy. Good to hear your doing good.

Michigan Jim

[AlanLawrenson in reply to Jim48185]

Hi Jim

PBT = Proton Beam Therapy. My PSA seems to have stabilised at 0.19, but am due to have another test soon. As the other guys have said there is a recurrence %  for almost all types of treatments. I would have thought it was less than 10% for PBT, as all centers spend a lot off time to ensure that the PC has not escaped the 'box', which would eliminate the patient as a PBT candidate. The physics of treating the cancer in the box is quite complex, but if they get the treatment plan correct, it should not see a recurrence. By the way, I wrote a best-seller on my experiences. See Amazon.

I still have a remaining rectal burn about the size of my little finger nail. I haven't bothered to get it fixed. Korea has a over-the-counter treatment, but I can't get it in Austraiia where I live.

[Jim48185 in reply to AlanLawrenson]

Alan I will look for your book. I had fun Durning my treatments. Have never heard of anyone having rectal burning from the treatments.

Michigan Jim

[rowboattom in reply to Jim48185]

My wife and I hiked 285 miles (weekends) and played golf early in the morning after treatments. It was hot in Loma Linda In the summertime. No side effects from treatments. But it came back Now on Lupron 

 

[rowboattom]

I too chose Proton Beam @ Luma Linda in 2012 .Good results until the spike did not come down in 2014 PSas went from .9 up to 5.8 in a few months. 25% of the Cancers come back and it seems to be with any method used.  I am now on Lurpon and the PSa has dropped to .02 

[Atlas55]

Surgery 2005. 

Proton 2007. 

IMRT,LUPRON,CHEMO 2010 

Been there, done that. 

2015 ? Watch out and waiting 

[scarlino]

I had Proton Therapy at MD Anderson in 2013.  I agree it is a relatively few side affects treatment and allowed me to work and continue most activities without issues.  My PSA stayed a 0 for 1-1/2 yrs, then went to 2.7 and then 29 six months later.  I am now on Firmagon shots monthly and in a Clinical Trial. As rowboattom said, 25 - 30% of all cancer treatments can end in failure and unfortunately, that occurred for me.  Pick the treatment that feels comfortable to you, but every treatment comes with the potential of failure. Don't assume any one is a guarantee.

[rowboattom in reply to scarlino]

And keep on testing the PSa's As often as possible

[jmhomanich]

Glad to hear you did so well.  I'm looking in to this but my surgery is already scheduled. You say "without any negative side effects".  So that means no incontinence and you are still able to have erections?

[Jim48185 in reply to jmhomanich]

I had no negative side effects at all an can still get erections an don't have incontinence. I wish you well an hope you have as good an out come as I did and all the men I have personally talked to that had treatments the same time as me.

Michigan Jim

[MikeMit]

jmhomanich...

I had Cyber Knife, similar to proton. And also, absolutely no side effects, everything works just fine. You could always schedule a consultation with the proton people before your surgery. You are the one that has to be comfortable with what you do. If you have any doubts, I would seriously think about it. 

Hope all goes well. God Bless. 

[frankgeorge]

PROTON THERAPY was never mentioned to me ! Brachytherapy was/is a disaster !

[Jim48185 in reply to frankgeorge]

Was never mentioned to me either, I looked for options on the computer to find Proton Therapy and one of my wife's doctor's brother had just had it and told her about it. I wasn't going to have my prostate cut out an have all the bad side effects that go with it.

Michigan Jim

[micwright]

cost? insurance coverage?

[Btaylor396 in reply to micwright]

I had United Health Care. They denied my coverage immediately and after a peer to peer doctor review. I was devastated yet knew this was the procedure I wanted. So I wrote a lengthy appeal (3" binder) and after 5 days I was approved and elated. It's purely because of the cost ($160k) Vs surgery which I believe is under $10k. Let me know if you get denied...