For those who have had proton therapy, what was your timeline?
What period of time elapsed after you began ADT and had the simulation? And then, how long after that did the actual therapy begin?
I've been reading and can't seem to determine a timeline, other than one guy wrote that he had the simulation in December and began treatment in January, but he had no ADT.
I was diagnosed (by biopsy by my local urologist) 6/1/22, and went straight to Johns Hopkins (at Sibley Hospital). They had Jonathan Epstein review my biopsy slides, and ordered an MRI and PSMA PET scan, which found that my cancer had spread to at least one pelvic lymph node. They assigned me a team (urologist, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist), which jointly recommended radiation and ADT (Eligard and abiraterone+prednisone for two years), with radiation to start after 6 months. I asked for proton, because they have a proton center onsite, and they agreed. I started my 44 sessions (28 full pelvis, followed by 16 "prostate boost") 2/1/23, and finished on 4/7. I'm now about 14 months into my ADT, and can't wait to be done, but otherwise all good.
Approximately 1 month after the adt began the simulation usually occurs, and it takes about 2-3 weeks after the simulation to begin treatment. Timing also depends on your MD, case specifics, and how busy the center is .
Was biopsied and diagnosed in Nov 2019Imaged and scanned in Dec 2019To evaluate treatment options.
Decided on proton Jan 2020.
Received single 6 month ADT shot Feb 2020
On march 1st I received a spaceOAR hydrogel injection. March 2nd they did the MRI for planning. And a week later got the green light from the doctors planning dept. About the March 15th start date.
Only thing I left out was I started a strict exercise and supplement program 6 weeks before the ADT shot.
Super helpful, thanks.
I began Lupron shots end of September 2022 and began my proton treatments mid November. I think the simulation was a week before the treatments.
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