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Starting Proton Treatments for Prostate Cancer: Any experiences?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 1 5:01pm | Replies (150)Comment receiving replies
PSA: 6.47 Gleason 3+3 2.5 months at Loma Linda Proton Center at the Loma Linda Hospital near Riverside, California in 2010. Post proton treatment with no side effects except some fatigue on Friday (played racquetball most days after 0730 treatment) .
2017 PSA began to rise to now 4.29 (some 14 years after proton radiation). Recent MRI indicates possible return; however, the original scan at Loma Linda indicated calcifications within and around the prostate. This can sometimes lead to issues outside a diagnosis of returning cancer.
I did sign in as a potential patient at Mayo one year ago. I would like to hear your experience, recommendations, or others as to your treatment. I have contacted Loma Linda with my complete file and awaiting some counseling on the options, if any. For example: how to absolutely affirm whether cancer has returned or not. Please include comments about UFHPTI. Thanks very much. Randall.Leesburg, Florida
Replies to "PSA: 6.47 Gleason 3+3 2.5 months at Loma Linda Proton Center at the Loma Linda Hospital..."
I'm 71 and have traditional Medicare. When I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer a year ago, it started with a marked increase of PSA from the 3s to the 4s in one year. I had a 3T MRI in Ft. Myers which read as high likelihood of cancer. So off to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, who performed the rest of my testing, which included biopsy, PSMA/PET scan and Decipher testing. Biopsy confirmed Gleason 7 and PSMA/PET showed cancer confined to the prostate. Decipher read low risk. So I researched all options (photon therapies, brachytherapy, TULSA, Laser, surgery and proton therapy) and chose proton therapy at UFHPTI in Jacksonville. My assigned doctor was Bill Mendenhall, whom I highly recommend along with UFHPTI. I finished 29 sessions in mid April. My PSA is dropping and now below 2 from a high of 7.5 when I started treatment in March. Doctor says my PSA should keep dropping over the next couple of years. I have no complications and am testing PSA every 3 months now. If my PSA ever increases,alarmingly, I would look at starting with another PSMA/PET scan and go from there. Medicare has paid for everything on schedule, including numerous 2nd opinions and doctor visits for the various treatment options.
Hello,
I completed 5 Proton treatments in November 2023 at Mayo Clinic Rochester. One every other day (Mon, Wed, Fri. Then Tue, Thu., and done) My original Gleason score was 3+4=7
I have not had any side effects, so far. Blood test show PSA less than 0.01
I feel fine and have been able to remain active throughout. When I talk to friends who did up to 44 treatments, I am happy with the choice I made. Remembering when I Googled prostate cancer, 2 choices came up, Mayo Rochester or Northwestern Chicago.
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@westernflyer
I have been a patiend of Mayo Jacksonville since 2006. All my health care is there and it is outstanding. However when I got diagnosis of prostrate cancer after biopsy at Mayo I was referred to Radiology/Oncology (R/O).
May R/O does not have proton radiation treatments. They are building a new cancer center that will have proton radiation treatments but is years away. My Primacy Care Physician (PCP) at Mayo wanted me to consider proton radiation in addition to what Mayo R/O was offering which was Photon. That to me is oustanding asking patient to consider all options and encouraging second opinions. After second opinion at UFHPTI I chose proton radiation at UFHPTI. It was outstanding treatment but UFHPTI is only for proton radiation treaments. IF they needs something else done they use Shands hospital.
As I mentioned Mayo clinic is great. Every other Mayo Clinic location has proton radiation. The care I received and continue to receive at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is superior to any other locations. Some doctors are better that others and you get the occassional bed side manner issues but overall I would recommend Mayo Clinic to anyone for primary care, second opinions. and treatments.
If you live close to Rochester or Phoenix those location do have proton and have very robust treatments, and latest technology and research on prostrate cancer.