Proton Treatment Completed!

[Chowwan]

Hi Everyone:

Just wanted to give everyone an update. I completed my pencil beam proton treatment on July 26, 2018 at California Protons in San Diego, CA. Dr. Rossi was wonderful, as well as the rest of the staff. The facility was top notch - a soothing environment with open architecture in the lobby and nice music, fancy coffee etc. I had 28 fractions, 70 Gy, and they used the rectal balloon. The rectal balloon experience wasn't as bad as it sounds! I had to drink about 16 ounces of water about 30 minutes before my appointment to make sure my bladder was full. I had a morning appointment, so after the treatment I had the rest of the day to play.

During the treatment, I had minor side effects - halfway through developed a little burning while urinating and ejaculating, some urgency to urinate, a little loose stools and maybe a little fatigue (hard to tell if this was from the treatment) towards the end. All in all, not too bad. All these side effects have mostly dissipated. I still have a "sun tan" on both sides if my hip where the proton beams were administered. According to the the info they gave me, this should go away in time.

My insurance, Blue Shield of CA covered it all. Although California Protons is out of network, they accepted the out of network reimbursement rate as payment in full.

My first PSA test will in November, 4 months after the end of the proton treatment , then every 6 months for 5 years and annually after that.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask.

[teamkv]

What was your original diagnosis and did you have any other treatment before the proton therapy?

[Chowwan in reply to teamkv]

Biopsy results from November 2017 - 1/12 cores positive located right apex at 3+4 Gleason (57% involvement, 10% at 4). One other core had Gleason score too small to grade. I am 59 years old.

I did not have any other treatment before proton.

[Steveo3312]

I had that same procedure

Done at Mayo Clinic

26 treatments at 2.7 gy a day

My first PSA reading was .74

Down from 4.29

They used the spacer on me.

[Hidden]

To Chowman, what stage# and Gleason score please? Sounds like a good treatment...Hope you get the best results. Welcome to the party.. Take care..

[Chowwan]

Hi Lulu700, As I mentioned to teamkv above, biopsy results from November 2017 - 1/12 cores positive located right apex at 3+4 Gleason (57% involvement, 10% at 4). One other core had Gleason score too small to grade. My stage was T1c. I am 59 years old.