Going for Tulsa Pro Jan. 7th
I've posted here a few times over the last year and have read most of the posts from others. I was diagnosed in January 2024 through an ultrasound biopsy (it should have been MRI guided), followed by a PSA test CT scan, MRI, and Decipher test. My cancer is not aggressive, but there are three growths in my prostate. My doctors recommended a full ablation, and I’ve decided to go with the Tulsa Procedure at UCLA with Dr. Steven Raman.
I’ve waited until now because I believe Medicare will begin covering the procedure on the 1st. of 2025. Earlier this year, I switched from a Medicare HMO plan (Blue Shield) to Original Medicare with a supplemental plan, where Medicare covers 80% and the supplemental plan pays the remaining 20%. It’s been incredibly difficult to determine whether Medicare will actually cover the procedure, as I’ve received conflicting information. However, I think they will.
I considered going back to an HMO with United Health Plans, which includes UCLA physicians as in-network, but no one could guarantee that they’d cover the procedure either.
Anyway, I thought I’d document this journey. It begins on January 5th, when I’ll check into an Airbnb hotel near the procedure location. This is two days before the procedure. I’ll have to fast those 2 days and completely empty my stomach (I’ll spare you the details). In the best-case scenario, I’ll wake up with a catheter and a “burned out” prostate. I’ll need to wear the catheter for at least two weeks. Hopefully, they'll get it all 🙂
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
I wish you had kept notes too, lol. But great to know you are doing so well, gives hope to me and others who follow behind 😀
It's been 10 months since Tulsa procedure at Mayo Jax and I feel great as an 80 year old that was almost too OLD for the procedure. As above, most all functions related are back or better than prior to Tulsa. I do have many other issues that require meds, I put the list in ChatCPT which provided a "personalized medication daily schedule", which gave potential compatibility problems and side effect warnings. For me, a tool to better track start and stop dates and which of my 6 "..ologists" prescribed them, It also helped with advice that make it easier to control supply and reorder.
Excellent! Thank you so much!
Figured I'd give an update. Tomorrow will be 6 weeks since I had the Tulsa Procedure. Since there were some unexpected equipment challenges during my procedure which required removing the original probe and inserting a alternate probe, I was concerned about my recovery. It tur b s out my concern was unfounded. Other guys that went before me wrote to tell me that things start to improve around week 5. I had a little blood in my urine and a slow stream every time until just before week 5, then like clockwork, the blood was gone and my stream was improving. I had been taking 2mg Terazosin for years prior to the procedure and and flomax post. About 5 days ago I stopped taking both. No more blood and my flow is better than it's ever been. I have had no incontinence issues and no sexual dysfunction. Physically and just important if not more so, psychologically I feel great and relieved. If you've been recently diagnosed, if you're a candidate, consider the Tulsa procedure, I'm really glad that I did. Today is March 3rd. On March 19th. I go in for an MRI to confirm that they got the targeted area. I'm optimistic that they did. I'll report back.
Awesome. I concur with your advocacy to consider Tulsa Pro😉 as my recovery was even easier. Hope MRI results look good.
So happy for you Paul.
While I just have ASAP, technically not cancer, I will go the Tulsa route if/when it results as cancer. My issue is in the right apex, peripheral zone. I’m curious where your issue was? Did you have full ablation? I’d be looking at Stanford for the procedure, closest. You or anyone know about their team?
So concerned about sexual function thereafter.
My slow growing cancer was located in a few areas on both sides (I don't recall the proper description). My doctor required me to consult with two other doctors prior to under going Tulsa. One pushed brachytherapy the other surgery. I mention this because when I consulted again with my doctor, telling him what the other doctors had said, he seemed to agree. It wasn't until the day of the procedure that he told me I had the option of whole glad or just targeting the cancerous growths. We talked about the pros and cons of each. To be honest, I don't recall what we decided, and I don't know whether he took it all or not. I thought I asked him to only remove the growths, but in his written remarks he talked about full ablation. He may have written that prior to the procedure? I meet with him later this month and I'll be sure to ask. BUT, the bottom line is, I have NO incontinence, my urine flow is great. My erections are just as good as they were before my procedure which is not great but adequate. Most importantly, I can still reach orgasm. I do have an ejaculate that has blood in it but the blood is dissipating with session. It may be that once all the blood is gone, there won't be any ejaculate, but at 70 years old (today), does that really matter? It still feels just as good. In the final analysis, everything went perfectly and I'm better off now than before the procedure. No cancer (I hope), better flow, no side effects, and no more Terazosin.
Kyle13: Here was my description: Prostate, Index Lesion x 5 Left ant TZ mid, needle core biopsy:
Adenocarcinoma, GRADE GROUP 3, Gleason grade 4+3 (score 7) (estimated 70 % grade 4)
4 of 5 needle cores are positive
70 % tissue involvement.
All 12 of the other cores were negative.
I had 30% my prostate ablated. I started sex 1 week after and have had no issues. I told my doctor that I actually think it’s better than before, but I think it’s just that I’m so happy that things didn’t change.😉
I had TULSA in November and returned for follow up March 4. I had labs done at the VA two weeks ago and PSA was 0.88. OU checked my PSA on Mar. 4 and it was 0.7. Before the procedure it was around 10. Dr. Stratton was very pleased and told me it couldn't get any better. My only side effect is dry orgasm. Erection is about like it was before the procedure. Dr. wrote a prescription for Viagra. I go back in June for an MRI. I'm very happy with my decision to go with TULSA PRO.
Awesome!! With results like ours I think the Tulsa Procedure will become the default choice for prostate cancer isolated to the prostate. Hoping my results turn out as good as yours.