Starting Proton Treatments for Prostate Cancer: Any experiences?

NO

Yes, started with 3 months shot on Jan 24th, just over 3 weeks ago. Only recognized side effects this week. First, low-grade headache. Second, frequent urination, and for the last two days I've had very frequent and severe hot flashes. Enough that I haven't had much sleep. Requested meds for the hot flashes this AM. Good luck!

Just started Radium 223 injections

Anyone know the success rate of it stopping bone cancer? What about adding years to survival?

My husband will be doing the Proton Beam therapy at Mayo in AZ. He had 3 plus 4 & 4 Plus 3. On 2-29-24, he will have a spacer surgery where they put in gel between the rectumn and the prostate to protect the retumn from the radiation. He will also be getting the Decipher test which will give him an idea of how aggressive the cancer is. They take the sample from his biopsy. This is a DNA type of test. We have 2 sons so we thought it was important. My husband's father and grandfather both died at the age of 56 from heart disease so we wouldn't of known if they would of had Prostate cancer. At this moment, my husband does not want to do the hormone therapy. The Radiologist did recommend 18 months. I'm not sure where this going to go. I do understand that you can drive yourself after each radiation treatment. Good luck on your treatment.

@llsteve, Lupron is a type of hormone therapy for prostate cancer that works by lowering the amount of testosterone in a person’s body, which helps slow the growth of cancer cells.

Are you taking Lupron?

I thought the Lupron was given to decrease the chance of prostate cancer recurring. Am I missing something?

Proton radiation therapy 2010 at Loma Linda Hospital..2.5 months of every weekday morning. PSA: 6.1 low growth prostate cancer caught early. Gleason 3+3 Note the procedure has changed in the last few years in that treatment is much shorter and equally successful. Absolutely no adverse effects post radiation..none!

Post radiation for about 5 years remained zero to .2. Note PSA tests can vary. That said, my PSA has increased in the last 14 years now at 2.5. The question: Has cancer returned? Possibly, but not absolute, therefore, I intend to watch any further elevation in the future with tests every six months. There is a scanning procedure, but with such a low PSA, told any scan options would not be conclusive either way.

In short, I would highly recommend proton radiation therapy and have for many years. Location, expense and other facts enter into the decision matrix, but do give this procedure some serious thought. RH/Florida

2020; age 75, PC localized to 1 lobe, score 3+4. I wasn’t a good candidate for surgery due to previous brain stem bleed that left a neurogenic bladder requiring self catheterization. Surgeon indicated i would very likely be incontinent post op. Statistics with Proton radiation excellent and underwent 5 sessions early 2021 without difficulty. Cancer seems to have responded and PSA< .2. No side effects until Oct 2021 when noted urgency and blood due to radiation cystitis. This progressed so had 60 sessions HBO June-Aug 2021. Discomfort and urgency improved but bleeding restarted and progressed until couldn’t drain bladder due to clots in March 2023. Admitted to St Elsewhere for 10d, transferred to St Mary’s Mayo for another 6 days, 2 more transfusions(total of 4) and a second cystoscopy with Alum that finally stopped bleeding. Miserable illness that took months to recover from. Had another 20 sessions of HBO. Currently, note flecks of blood maybe every 10 days, no discomfort. Scheduled for cystoscopy next month and hoping will see marked regression of the vascular abnormalities associated with radiation damage. Long story that isn’t over. Still, no evidence of active cancer, so i go with that! Good luck with your journey…

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