Going for Tulsa Pro

Posted by paulcalif @paulcalif, Dec 29, 2024

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 🙂

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

clandeboye1 | @clandeboye1 | Jan 2 2:26pm

In reply to @paulcalif "I considered all of those as well, best of luck to you." + (show)

Good luck to you on January 7th . -- Keep us posted on your results .
HAPP Y NEW YEAR .

paulcalif | @paulcalif | Jan 2 10:22am

In reply to @clandeboye1 "I am considering NanoKnife , TULSA PRO or Mono SBRT ( 5 TREATMENTS )" + (show)

I considered all of those as well, best of luck to you.

paulcalif | @paulcalif | Jan 2 10:12am

No, I'm not inferring that, I'm just saying that for the right person, Dr. Raman might suggest active surveillance. I have no idea what level of the disease would make for a good active surveillance candidate.

clandeboye1 | @clandeboye1 | Jan 2 10:01am

In reply to @paulcalif "My doctor (Dr. Steven Raman, UCLA) is also very knowledgeable about active surveillance and would probably..." + (show)

Are you inferring that with Gleason 6 in 4 cores and Gleason 3 + 4 = 7 in 2 cores , that Dr. Raman would suggest AS ?

paulcalif | @paulcalif | Jan 2 9:57am

How was your outcome and recovery?

bobbygene | @bobbygene | Jan 2 9:44am

In reply to @clandeboye1 "How long were you under anaesthetic ? I read one case on these threads where a..." + (show)

I was under about 4 hours with my TULSA PRO.

clandeboye1 | @clandeboye1 | Jan 2 9:03am

I am considering NanoKnife , TULSA PRO or Mono SBRT ( 5 TREATMENTS )

paulcalif | @paulcalif | Jan 2 8:52am

In reply to @clandeboye1 "THANKS FOR YOUR TIMELY REPLY. I have one liason - my prostate is 80 cc. In..." + (show)

My doctor (Dr. Steven Raman, UCLA) is also very knowledgeable about active surveillance and would probably advise that if it weren't for the Urologist and radiologist that he works with, both suggesting full prostate ablation. So, I'm getting it over with. I've waited a year. It would suck to have it spread knowing I had a chance to catch it before it did.

clandeboye1 | @clandeboye1 | Jan 2 8:38am

THANKS FOR YOUR TIMELY REPLY. I have one liason - my prostate is 80 cc.
In addition to discussing TULSA PRO with Dr Klotz , I plan to broach the subject of Active Surveillance as he has also published extensive research addressing this matter . I am currently on AS

bjroc | @bjroc | Jan 2 7:47am

In reply to @clandeboye1 "What size were your lisons and what size was your prostate .? Yes in my consult..." + (show)

I had several tiny lesions, but my prostate size was over 100cc. Originally they aimed at about 2/3 of prostate for ablation fraction but it was higher maybe 75% on MRI post procedure image report they gave me. Dr Klotz is about the best, that sounds like a really good person to go to. Don't worry about these trials, that is about papers, the studies done for papers always have limits, go because you really want it for your case. For papers they propose so many x cases all y gleason, basically to make paper publishing less time consuming. I did some papers (completely unrelated and in research) it can take several years to get a paper published and they put all these limits so the paper publishing will be less basically. Keep in mind several years ago they didn't take the temperature up for long during Tulsa, now they take it up for so many minutes while watching the MRI all to be sure they kill what they see.