Finished 28 Proton Therapies

yes. I was told that the shading on both hip thighs would be noticeable but I kept putting skin cream on it throughout my treatments and it's almost down to Nil now.

At 65y with a 7(4+3), I had 28 sessions of proton radiation (during April-May 2021), plus Casodex (Bicalutimide), 6 months (two 3-month injections) of Eligard, and SpaceOAR Vue.

Proton radiation treatments were relatively uneventful.

PSA was a (Finasteride-adjusted) 7.976 ng/mL prior to treatment, dropped as low as < 0.008 during treatment (due to the Eligard; testosterone dropped to 3.0 ng/dL. Since radiation treatment and Eligard ended, PSA now varies between 0.3-0.5 ng/mL, with the most recent PSA being 0.43 ng/mL.

So far, there’s no evidence of disease. Hope your outcome is as successful.

With proton’s Bragg-Peak characteristics (look it up), exposure to surrounding normal tissues is minimized, with little radiation entry-dose, minimal radiation scatter, and no radiation exit-dose. Side-effects like burns to the skin would be rare.

@gently
Yes I did get what they called a sunburn type of burn on each hip. I was told this would occur as the is where the proton beam enters body. Even though the proton beam releases it's energy where it is programmed some radiation does occur when entering body.

I did not notice it until one day my wife said she could see the sunburn on both sides of my hip. It got more pronounce over time. Then when treatments ended it turned into a tan color. I still had it months after treatment ended and asked my oncologist/radiologist about it.

He said completely normal reaction of skin and would slowly fade each month after treatments. And it did. It did not hurt or bother me so I did not mention it as a side affect.

this is very normal and my suggestion to you is to use a skin moisturizer as I have been doing since I received my 28 proton beam therapies and it is finally fading away After four months.

May I ask where your proton treatments occurred?

My proton beam radiation treatments were done at the University of Cincinnati Proton Therapy Center. Just a 40-minute drive from my home, it was very convenient.

My husband met with the surgeon this morning at Mayo Clinic. He reviewed his biopsy and said that his prostate was large and did not recommend RP but radiation. We have the radiation appointment this coming Thursday. This is a whole different direction than we thought would happen. We live in AZ and he is interested in the Proton Beam Therapy. After therapy, were you able to drive yourself?

Yes you can drive. I had 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI. The treatments are painless and do not affect you driving.

You may at some time in your treatments have to go to bathroom more. You can plan on this and go to bathroom when leaving treatment office. I have heard this question and so must be a concern for many.

Treatments are painless. You will have no idea you are receiving radiation treatments. Just realize that after several you may have to urninate more ofter and more ugently. Thus my solution was to urinate upon arrival and before leaving. Your oncologist/radiologist and urolgist should have briefed on the ability to drive is not affected. Good and realize millions have gone through this.

Jim volunteered to do a trial where they fill up his bladder before doing the proton beam treatment. He'll probably have to go before, during and after.