Anyone familiar with California Proton Center in San Diego

carlsbadguy, I had proton (for a different cancer) at CA Proton while it was Scripps and in bankruptcy.
Rossi has done more prostate proton treatments than any and has trained and set up many of the other proton centers. If you have a consultation with him, you'll find him wonderfully conversant and responsive.
I hasten to mention MRI guided photon. LA is a busy drive from Carlsbad but your might be able to have a lower dose of radiation with a shorter treatment period. You might take a consultation with Amar Kishan at UCLA. It is a 5 day treatment over 2 weeks. The MRIdian Viewray uses real time imaging to adjust to the ever moving prostate gland. The margins are closer than CT guidance which isn't real time.
Bless your choice with luck.

Wow, I can't believe you were undergoing treatment during that time frame. Nothing like throwing a little more stress your way. Dr Rossi does come with world class receipts. I have given some thought to UCLA, but Carlsbad to Westwood would be a brutal round trip. If I decided to go that route, with the price of gas in So Cal, it would almost make sense to stay in LA. 🙂
Thanks for your input.

@carlsbadguy
Don't know much about the San Diego center. I do know that a center called Loma Lima (can't be sure that is correct spelling) which was built back in 2006 and was one of the first centers to have proton radiation like UFHPTI in Jacksonville.

Have heard great things about Loma as well as where I went UFHPTI. Back in 2006 very few proton centers. Reasons, costs, and not covered by insurances. Now Medicare does cover proton radiation and many many centers have been built with latest equipment.

Hi @carlsbadguy ,

I was treated by Dr. Rossi in January and February of 2025. I can highly recommend him and the CA Protons cancer care center. When I had my initial telehealth consult (from Minneapolis) with Dr. Rossi he spent over an hour with me discussing my case, proton therapy, SpaceOAR, diet regimen during radiation, and other associated topics. I asked many, many questions and he took the time to answer everything in detail. The more you can educate yourself before your consult the better the questions you will be able to ask. During my five and a half weeks of radiation I met with Dr. Rossi in person at the clinic each week to review progress and any issues. I really looked forward to these appointments. He is very personable and puts the patient's quality of life first. Regarding my course of hormone therapy, he recommended 18 months for me in line with NCCN guidelines for my case, but he told me right at the start I could stop the hormone therapy at any point if I could not tolerate it. I also met with the clinic's dietician, Holly Mott, each week during treatment to address any issues related to diet. Holly was wonderful too. The clinic also has mental health counseling available.

My prostate cancer case is Gleason 8, contained to the prostate; I do not have the additional serious issues of IDC and cribriform. I had 28 fractions of proton radiation to the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes, and completed 18 months of hormone therapy (Orgovyx) which I began about three months before commencing the radiation. (The three month lead time is not the norm. I started the hormone therapy early because of insurance issues, which the crack appeal team at the clinic got resolved.) My first post radiation PSA test was four months after completion of radiation. At that time, my PSA was undetectable at "< 0.04 ng/ml" (Quest Labs). I have had three subsequent PSA tests all with that same result. Last month I had my first testosterone test, one month since finishing the Orgovyx, and my testosterone had risen from 2 ng/dl to 34 ng/dl. Had another blood draw yesterday for PSA and testosterone and am waiting on those results.

Feel free to direct message me with any questions. I would be happy to discuss things in detail with you over the phone as well.

Bottom line: Dr. Rossi is an expert with vast experience with proton therapy and is such a wonderful person. I don't think you could find anyone better to treat you with protons. He does not see as many patients as he used to so you may have to wait six to eight weeks or so for an appointment. A consult with Dr. Rossi would be time very well spent whether you choose treatment by him or not. Also, if you do go with Dr. Rossi for treatment, I highly recommend having the SpaceOAR placement done by Dr. Steven Davis. He is another fine doctor at the clinic and is expert at that procedure.

In this 2023 Mid-Year PCRI conference, Dr. Rossi has a lot of information about proton therapy in his presentation starting at 3:38:45 at: https://www.youtube.com/live/WTqPnSRYtW4

(I had 28 fractions of proton radiation + 6 months of ADT.)

I have no direct experience with Dr Rossi, I have however seen a lot of his commentary and I think he is likely near the top in the proton game. I did have Proton at Fred Hutchinson in Seattle, going through the process I learned about some key issues. The biggest issue besides finding a top center is using a rectal spacer with proton. I believe Dr Rossi insists on this as I would as well. I may be wrong about Loma Linda but when I last checked they used a positioning balloon and not a rectal spacer. I think this leads to much higher rates of radiation proctitis. I would raise that issue with any proton provider. That said there was another comment about MRI guided SBRT, while the studies on this are being questioned in some corners (USCF) I think it is an excellent option as well, maybe superior to proton, not sure. I will say I am going on 18 months out 70 years old and ED is not an issue ( they say if you make 20 months your in good shape ). Some lingering digestive issues that went away over a number of months but other than that all is well.

March of 2010, I was a Loma Linda for 2.5 months; proton radiation every morning during the weekdays. Gleason 3 plus; PSA 6.47 Slow growth prostate cancer. Loma Linda was the pioneer in proton radiation initially for children with brain cancer. In fact, the facility was called Loma Linda Children's Hospital. Post radiation or during the process, absolutely no issues. I stayed at March AFB and played racquetball most afternoons. Today, there seems to be a contrast between reduced radiation over a longer period of time verses increased radiation over a shorter amount of time. This contrast must reflect the cost and availability of the proton machines. The cost to build one of these facilities exceeds 200 million or more today. I took no medication during the process or after. All systems have been fine. I have had a slight increase in PSA; have had two PET scans last two years (one last weekend) and nothing shows up. The aging process somehow tends to increase PSA. Go figure...!