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Going for Tulsa Pro
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 🙂
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@pioneer follow up how your doing and continued thoughts of your Tulsa pro
Hey @jeff101650 ,
I’m feeling great and have no limitations on my life style. However, I am dealing with ED and incontinence. Both seem to be improving.p (slowly).
If I had to do it all over again I would definitely take the same route.
@pioneer Super to hear your positive notes on your Tulsa Procedure! My Tulsa Procedure at Mayo Rochester will be a week from today (August 19)! Wish me luck as I'm a little nervous!
Because of my age, turning 80 in December, a prostatectomy was out of the question. I also did not want to go the radiation route. After initial discussions at Mayo, based upon the location of the cancer in my prostate, I was an ideal candidate for the Tulsa Procedure.
P.S. The Urology group I have been with for over 12 years (the past 10 years on active surveillance) is a top rated group. However, not once was the Tulsa Procedure ever discussed as an option for my treatment. Being part of these Mayo support groups is where I first heard of the Tulsa Procedure! Thanks to so many of you! Mike
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1 Reaction@mikead63
Hello Mike,
I wish you the very best, I’m praying everything goes well for you.
Best regards
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3 Reactions@mikead63
You will do great Mike. My guess is after the catheter comes out, you’ll reflect back on how easy the whole thing was! I’ve never been disappointed with my care at Mayo. It’s just different than any place else I’ve ever been.
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3 Reactions@mikead63 Hey Mike, just got back from Mayo and Minnesota. You should do well, they are top people all around. Mine of course this time was cryoablation after recurrence, this a few years+ after Tulsa Pro. Dr Woodrum is real unique and one of a kind. Catheter is always one of the hardest parts but just take it easy and, use depends because there likely will be blood and so on. Another hard one for me this time was some super powerful antibiotic they gave me the day of catheter coming out. Wiped my GI out big time, but of course it is coming back. Never had that kind of reaction so watch that perhaps too.
Yeah every place I went no doctor I went to would discuss anything but standard stuff, or talked only negatively about any non-standard treatment I suppose out of lack of real reading or study about anything else. The field is like that for whatever reasons.
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3 Reactions@bjroc First off, I hope you have good results from your procedure. I appreciate the depends reminder! Regarding the strong antibiotic, I need to address that with them up front because I have had C. diff twice in the past 4 years and it is something I don't wish to ever get again! As you may know, C.diff can happen after taking antibiotics and that is what the cause was for me (too many too close together). There are medications that can help prevent a recurrence of C. diff such as targeted oral antibiotics like vancomycin. Thanks for the heads up!
Update 19 months after Tulsa:
This has been a concerning year for me. Shortly Post Tulsa my PSA WAS .7 then each successive test was higher reaching 3.2 at one year post Tulsa. AND I was taking Propecia for hair loss, which lowers your PSA score by 50%. I stopped Propecia in January of this year, expecting my PSA to double but 3 months later it was lower. My most recent PSA was back down to 1.2! I've had regular MRI's and a recent PSMA CatScan, all either clear or undetermined. They have shifted my MRI surveillance from every 3 months to 6 months. Everything I read said that rising PSA was concerning and unlikely to reverse. But in my case it has. Fingers crossed. For those considering Tulsa, IF you are a candidate, DO IT!! Best decision I ever made. My urine flow is better than it's ever been, sexual functions still work sans ejaculate but sensation is the same. No incontinence. READ UP on it!!
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