Starting Proton Treatments for Prostate Cancer: Any experiences?

@4rs
I read your posts. Really disapointed with your insurance not covering Proton Radiation. I assume by your mentioning of your insurance you are not on Medicare. Medicare does cover Proton radiation.

Have you reached out to major medical institutions about getting treatment that insurance does not cover? I know UFHPTI has a program for those who do not have insurance or insurance does not cover for additional finanical help. I also donate to Mayo several times a year for the Good Samartian Fund. That fund is to help those who do not have insurance or their insurance does not cover medical tests and treatments available.

There is not difference between succss rates for Photon and Proton radiation. They are identical. The major difference is that Photon radiation enters body and exit body where Proton stops at the point radiation is needed and does not proceed through body. Thus the possibility (many studies being done now) of less radiation damage and secondary cancers caused from radiation damage to health organs and tissue that proton radiation can avoid.

They have improved Photon radiation treatments in the last few years. They (SBRT) can steer the radiation beam (come from many directions) to try and avoid other ograns and tissue. This is a great improvement but does not stop the issue with photon continuing out through body where proton does not.

I had 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFHPTI. My posts comes from consultation at Mayo Jacksonville who could only offer Photon SBRT. My consultation with UFHPTI who offers 20 years experience of doing proton radiation where prostate cancer is the major treatment there.

My Mayo PCP and I met to discuss the pros and cons of each treatment and we decided as a team that the proton radiation treatment at UFHPTI was the best for me.

@4rs I am curious what your reason is for the preference of proton therapy? Any chance of mentioning what your insurance carrier is?

My pet scan is tomorrow, oncologist is the next day (at Mayo Rochester). So far everything points to no spread outside the prostate. I have multiple prior surgeries that make surgical options higher risk, so I'm leaning toward radiation therapy but worried insurance won't cover proton therapy.

I'm still in the self-research stage as I haven't seen the oncologist yet. I understand that the accuracy of the proton beam appears to make it the best option if cancer is contained, but I would think the lack of focus of photon radiation could be a benefit to catch any nearby cancer if it has started to spread out of the prostate. But then again, I'm also worried that proton won't be approved by my insurance so may just be trying to rationalize accepting a different treatment.

@4rs I am curious what your reason is for the preference of proton therapy? Any chance of mentioning what your insurance carrier is?

My pet scan is tomorrow, oncologist is the next day (at Mayo Rochester). So far everything points to no spread outside the prostate. I have multiple prior surgeries that make surgical options higher risk, so I'm leaning toward radiation therapy but worried insurance won't cover proton therapy.

I'm still in the self-research stage as I haven't seen the oncologist yet. I understand that the accuracy of the proton beam appears to make it the best option if cancer is contained, but I would think the lack of focus of photon radiation could be a benefit to catch any nearby cancer if it has started to spread out of the prostate. But then again, I'm also worried that proton won't be approved by my insurance so may just be trying to rationalize accepting a different treatment.