An update on my Proton Therapy

[Pesky21]

So I decided to update my situation and treatment here in the Houston area. At a very young and sexually active 72 yrs old I was diagnosed with intermediate risk Pc in May last year (2019). I had a large tumor with a slight extracapsular extension. PSA 7.5 and rising pretty fast, G 3+4. I spend a lot of time researching treatments and talking to doctors. First settled on SBRT Cyberknife with St. Luke's but that didn't work out - after they had already placed fiducials. I then scheduled RP with MD Anderson but cancelled that just before surgery when I discovered Proton Therapy, also with MD Anderson. My RO (Dr. Shah) suggested hormone therapy also. When I asked what the difference in survivability could be if I didn't take hormones and he responded 2% I immediately said forget the hormones, Doc. I went through a 39 treatment program at the Proton Therapy Center in Houston. I then partied for 3 months after which I had my first lab/blood work done. Dr. Shah informed me that my PSA dropped to 1.7 and would continue to fall. He said this was a very good result especially since I opted out of hormones. He then said I was now "cancer free". Next blood work is in December and I will update with that result. A couple of notes: 1) Proton Therapy is VERY expensive - thankfully Medicare and my supplemental paid for everything because my company insurance (Aetna) considered the treatment to be "experimental" and refused coverage. 2) I did not use Spaceoar gel 3) 39 treatments on week days was a grind but now looking back a few months I hardly remember them. 4) I have virtually no side effects now and am still very sexually active with strong erections and great orgasms and although most of them are now dry they are as intense as ever - maybe more so. 5) Sooo glad I didn't have RP or hormones.

[aceace12]

sounds like great sucess

[Try_One]

I understand your success is not typical, which is why it is considered experimental for PCa. It is not experimental for other cancers. I will be four years active surveillance in February, and watch for results on Photon therapy, hoping it would work for me as well as it has for you. Congratulations!