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Looking through post. Weighing options. My dr has just been watching my psa climb over last couple years even though my father and brother both had prostrate cancer. Gradually at first from 4 to 4.5 to 5. Last time jumped to 7.9. MRI showed prostate volume of 104 cc. 2 masses. one 28mm and second is 16.1. Bx on Wednesday. Radiologist classified them both as PI-RADS 5. Looks like capsule is intact. Hoping insurance will cover something other then just surgery. Read someone from Oklahoma had it done at OU medical. Has anyone had this procedure performed at the proton center in Oklahoma City? For those that had this how long ago did you have it done, would you do it again, any side effects. Thanks
Replies to "Looking through post. Weighing options. My dr has just been watching my psa climb over last..."
I had TULSA PRO done Nov. 29, 2024. Dr Stratton at OU Stephenson Cancer Center performed the procedure. I went back March 3 for follow up. My PSA was .7 the dr. was very pleased and so am I. No pain except for my hips from the position they had me in. No incontinence or other side effects. Stream came back to pre treatment in about 4 weeks. I highly recommend the TULSA PRO treatment.
TULSA in February of this year, 2025, at Texas Prostate in Dallas, TX with Dr. James Cochran.
In my opinion, you need to be immediately proactive and take control of this and stop letting your doctor 'watch your PSA'. What you have working against you is the size of the prostate, that has approached the near max for some doctors. As long as a PSMA shows no escape of cancer cells and there are no calcifications, a TULSA doctor will likely accept you.
I had zero pain afterwards, had medication for bladder spasms and to reduce the 'urge' feeling to need to urinate. Wore the catheter for 12 days, it really was not an issue but you will need to learn to make it a part of your daily life for 12 to 14 days. Doctor should have you on some sort of antibiotic to prevent a UTI. If they will not, then find another doctor.
If using a concierge type facility like Texas Prostate or Oklahoma Proton, then be aware of how your insurance will provide coverage, if any, it will be probably 'out of network' coverage. If you are on Medicare or other healthcare you best bet is somewhere like Mayo or UTSouthwestern in Dallas, TX that will accept your healthcare. You can go to Tulsaprocedure.com and a center to find one close to you. Who ever you choose for TULSA, you want to move now and make a decision. Once the cancer has left the capsule you are facing other less desirable treatments.
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I had TULSA-PRO in October 2024 at Mayo Rochester. Like you I had a 100cc prostate, but only one lesion with capsule intact. As part of this procedure the doctor also ablated about 50% of my prostate. I just had my 6 month checkup and MRI. My prostate is now 50cc, reasonable for a 78 year old male. My PSA has remained constant at 1.3 for both the 3 month and 6 month tests. My MRI at 6 months showed nothing of concern. And I'm peeing like a 16 year old. My body is still absorbing the dead tissue inside my prostate, and doctor said it could take up to 18 months for that to run its course. I'm having some slight to moderate pelvic pain when I sit for a longer period of time on something hard like my desk chair. And I have some discomfort when I bend over to pick something up or to tie my shoe. But if this is my new normal, I can live with it. Everything else seems functional and fine. I'm pleased so far with my decision on focal therapy. The catheter for a few days after the procedure was the worst part of this, but it's not so bad that I'd not do it again if I had to. A person has to be a "candidate" for this procedure.........in your case 2 lesions may be an issue or may not. Calcification inside the prostate may also be an issue. But have it done by a highly experienced doctor at a center of excellence. That is a critical criteria.