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Proton Therapy: any long term side effects? Any regrets?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jul 30 4:58pm | Replies (35)
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@kmat

Thanks again for your reply. I have just written this morning for the URHPTI from UF/Jax. I live in St Pete and I'm putting together as much info as possible re proton treatment at Orlando and Jax. Jax seems to be winning out! I have a prostate biopsy Monday, August 5 and I meet with the urologist two weeks later. At that time I imagine he'll talk various treatments. I hope I will quality in his eyes for proton therapy. I'm 77. At my last meeting he said he did not think to remove the prostate and that the cancer was 'enclosed' so that he thought it curable. Please God he's right but the biopsy may alter his views.

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Replies to "Thanks again for your reply. I have just written this morning for the URHPTI from UF/Jax...."
jc76 | @jc76 | Jul 19 10:37am

@kmat
You will hear almost all who have gone through this to get second opinions. Your medical instution or doctor can send you medical records to UFHPTI in Jacksonville. UFHPTI can handle that for you. I only mentioned UFHPTI as they have that set up for their second opinions.

The UFHPTI experts there will go over your tests, and diagnoses and concur or not concur. And will set up any additional testing they need. I had several additional test at UFHPTI that the other institution did not do. My R/O went over what their Phsysic Department recommended for me of the types of proton radiation that can be used based on what was best for my specific cancer and medical information.
Are you saying that your biopsy will not be known to you or you will not meet with your urolgist for two weeks after your biopsy? UFHPTI and Mayo use patient portals. The test you get go directly to them and they contact you via portal.

I and many others who went to UFHPTI used the portal extensively. I received a message back to me that same day or next if I had a question or needed information.

I don't know about the treatment centers in Orlando. They maybe great. I can say that UFHPTI is outstanding and been a leading edge of proton treatments since 2006. They just received a 25 million dollar federal grant to study the short and long term treatments and outcomes of proton radiation versus photon and other methods.

I wish Mayo Jacksonville had proton radiation but they only have photon. They are building a new cancer center that will have proton but not for several years. Photon radiation is a choice of many and many new methods used but I chose proton based on my PCP and my research. That is why getting second opinions, reserach, and using information media like MCC can help you.

When I got my packet from UFHPTI it was full of research from so many different institutions and medical research experts. What I did was asked questions and asked about both pros and cons during visits.
Good luck!!

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