@ripleymo
First you are doing the right thing by researching. Using MCC is excellent for feedback and information. Also look at web sites for Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, and other outstanding prostrate treatment facilities and read their research and information.
UFHPTI is University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute. It has been doing proton radiation treatments for cancer including prostrate radiation since 2006. It has the latest treatments and equipment and 5 different gantries. It is done by appointments thus no waiting. They do many precise radiation treatments especially with children. When I was there the entire right side of each changing rooms, and I am talking about approximately several hundred feet set aside for children with special rooms and amenities.
UFHPTI offers a information phamplet free for prostrate cancer treatments. It has tons of research, types of radiation treatments, pros and cons, outcomes, and what they offer and do at UFHPTI. I have often posted I wish Mayo Jacksonville had such a phamphlet for prostrate cancer treatments.
There is NO push to have your treatments done there just to give you the information you need to decide yourself. UHPTI, like Mayo, are salaried employees and stress when they order tests and procedures it is what is best for patient and has nothing to do with their pay. If you live anywhere close to Mayo in Rochester and Phoenix they do offer proton radiation treatment at those locations.
I would have had my prostrate radiation treatments at Mayo Jacksonville. It is where I had all my tests, MRI, biopsies, bone scan, and Decipher but did not offer proton radiation. My PCP was the one who recommended I do research at other treatments facilities like UFHPTI.
Colleen has mentioned Mayo Jacksonville is building a new cancer center that will have proton radiation and open in 2026. I was told this when I did a consultation with Mayo R/O. I think, just my opinion, shows the pros of proton radiation.
Not that the outcomes of photon and proton are not equal but that proton radiation can help limit the radiation damage to other organs and tissues. I know children and those with specific cancers (like brain, eye, throat, etc.) really have to limit the second hand damage of the radiation and get referred to institutions that offer proton radiation.
Having said that Mayo Jacksonville still has an excellent program using the latest photon radiation treatments.
Proton radiation: I spent 2.5 months at Loma Linda Hospital near Riverside, California in 2010. As I understand, the cost of building a proton radiation system will exceed $200 million USD. Or, more. Hence, the reason why there are so few in the US. Initially, so I was told proton radiation was used for brain cancer in children. It was then used later for prostate cancer. I understand the time frame has changed.
In the mornings awaiting "my turn", several men in smocks would gather in the waiting room to be called. So, most of us had some conversations. Many of the patients were physicians. This validated my decision to select proton radiation over the other options. Make every effort to explore the options. Mayo or Cleveland Clinic would be two excellent choices.
@ripleymo if you are willing to go to the Orlando area, (Orlando Health Cancer Center) they have a MRIdian linac machine which is similar to the Elekta Unity. It was the pre-cursor to the Elekta Unity and has all the bells and whistles including 2 mm margins, auto shutoff, dynamic planning…for treatment. Private message me if you need more information including my RO’s name who was trained at MD Andersen.
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@ripleymo
First you are doing the right thing by researching. Using MCC is excellent for feedback and information. Also look at web sites for Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, and other outstanding prostrate treatment facilities and read their research and information.
UFHPTI is University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute. It has been doing proton radiation treatments for cancer including prostrate radiation since 2006. It has the latest treatments and equipment and 5 different gantries. It is done by appointments thus no waiting. They do many precise radiation treatments especially with children. When I was there the entire right side of each changing rooms, and I am talking about approximately several hundred feet set aside for children with special rooms and amenities.
UFHPTI offers a information phamplet free for prostrate cancer treatments. It has tons of research, types of radiation treatments, pros and cons, outcomes, and what they offer and do at UFHPTI. I have often posted I wish Mayo Jacksonville had such a phamphlet for prostrate cancer treatments.
There is NO push to have your treatments done there just to give you the information you need to decide yourself. UHPTI, like Mayo, are salaried employees and stress when they order tests and procedures it is what is best for patient and has nothing to do with their pay. If you live anywhere close to Mayo in Rochester and Phoenix they do offer proton radiation treatment at those locations.
I would have had my prostrate radiation treatments at Mayo Jacksonville. It is where I had all my tests, MRI, biopsies, bone scan, and Decipher but did not offer proton radiation. My PCP was the one who recommended I do research at other treatments facilities like UFHPTI.
Colleen has mentioned Mayo Jacksonville is building a new cancer center that will have proton radiation and open in 2026. I was told this when I did a consultation with Mayo R/O. I think, just my opinion, shows the pros of proton radiation.
Not that the outcomes of photon and proton are not equal but that proton radiation can help limit the radiation damage to other organs and tissues. I know children and those with specific cancers (like brain, eye, throat, etc.) really have to limit the second hand damage of the radiation and get referred to institutions that offer proton radiation.
Having said that Mayo Jacksonville still has an excellent program using the latest photon radiation treatments.
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@ripleymo if you are willing to go to the Orlando area, (Orlando Health Cancer Center) they have a MRIdian linac machine which is similar to the Elekta Unity. It was the pre-cursor to the Elekta Unity and has all the bells and whistles including 2 mm margins, auto shutoff, dynamic planning…for treatment. Private message me if you need more information including my RO’s name who was trained at MD Andersen.