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Starting Proton Treatments for Prostate Cancer: Any experiences?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 1 5:01pm | Replies (150)Comment receiving replies
The options for prostate cancer are many. I suppose it may depend on the extent of the growth and other issues.
But, that said, each morning prior to the proton radiation of which there were three or possibly four machine, the waiting room was filled with those awaiting treatment. All with back open smock and nothing else. I would say that during my 2 1/2 month at Loma Linda the morning men I met were at least 50% physicians from all across America, This singular fact validated my decision to select proton radiation therapy. I was in Spain when diagnosis with biopsy, then went to the US Naval Base in Rota, Spain for another one. At that time, the lead urologist from Bethesda was on sight and performed the 2nd biopsy and provided validation of the slow growth cancer with PSA 6.47.
I would strongly suggest if the option to have proton radiation and the process fits the issues, then by all means do so. I know economics plays heavy and hard in many cases, as proton is relatively expensive. I am relatively certain Medicare will pay.
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I had my proton radiation done at UFPTI in Jacksonville Fl. It was a outstanding facility. They had 5 treatment rooms with gantries. You stay in a very large waiting lobby that had tea, coffee, water, area. There was as special enclosed room with toys and play areas for children. Has a spiral stair case, large tinted windows, a piano and area for musicians to play music. I would guess the waiting area was about 2,000 sq. ft.
The rest of waiting room has many different type chairs and areas. It was huge. When you come in you have a special I.D. that you place under a reader that signs you in and lets your care team know you are there. When your reservation time comes one of your care team comes out and escorts you back to the treatment rooms. Have the same treatment room and same team each time. Several checks to make sure you are the patient including you verifying your picture and your name on a special bed you lay on. The treatment last about 10 minutes and that includes low dose xray of you markers and any adjustment to the table you are on to line up beams.
You do not go back for treatment until your time. Then you go to dressing room (alone) and immediately when you change clothes you are brought back to gantry for treatment. You are assigned a team and you see them each and every time you come. Your time is given to you the day of treatment for next treatment time. You can request a treatment time and they do everything they can to give that time to you each time. I requested a 12:30 time and I was always given that time within 30 minutes for all 30 treatments. No one every sees you with your rope on other than radiation team techs.
Had changing room with lockers and a bathroom right across from them. Each gantry (5) was probably 30-40 feet from each other along a long hallway. Each gantry treatment area has it's own bathroom and changing room with lockable lockers.
At my initial consultation with a provider who only had photon radiation I got the too expensive and no additional benefits from one provider but my research showed that there are several additional benefits for proton versus photon radiation. And Medicare paid for the proton radiation treatments with no issues or problems. It is expensive but Medicare does pay for it.
I also did a lot of research. UFPTI provided tons of research information, books, etc. Some of their information showed that almost every state had patients coming to them and 33 different countries.