Just completed treatment

Last Friday I finally returned home after spending the last 10+ weeks in Loma Linda California where I received proton treatments for Pca. Last November my life trajectory took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, PSA 6.3 and Gleason score of 7. I, like all on this board, went to search for answers mode and spent countless hours researching my solution. I came to the decision proton therapy was my path.

As i was going through treatment at Loma Linda it dawned on me I should keep a record of not only my progress through treatment but also of my thought process prior and during treatment. So I wrote a blog of my treatment experiences to date (http://panajar.blogspot.com). I hope as time goes and I see changes I would add to the blog with the hopes it could be of value to those going through the decision process. Please feel free to read it and to give the address to any who may benefit from it.

In general the treatments were easy with minor side effects. The side effects I had showed up around the halfway point. I started to have hesitancy during urination and urgency only at night. Why at night is good question but without an answer. The side effect have been easily controlled with Flowmax which I am still on. These side effect were common with my fellow patients.

Other than the above side effects the treatments caused _no_ changes in diet, life style or sexual activity. I know there is no guarantee things will stay the same. I am keeping my fingers crossed. In general I came home in better physical shape than when I left for treatment just because i was more active having joined a gym, and started playing tennis.

Pan-
I checked out your blog and wanted to thank you for sharing your story. It sounds like you had an incredible experience and definitely squeezed as much fun in as you could. Good for you!!! Welcome home and I'm glad you found HW. Best wishes in your recovery and a lifetime of undetectable PSA's!

Chayna

Hi PAN,
Welcome to the best site on the web for patient to patient interaction. You sound like your treatment went well. Your brother, JP ~ Is a very dear friend of mine. He and I have worked together most of the last 25 years. Your blog had that picture with his daughter, and I about flipped. Small, Small world. Well again, you are very welcome here. Sorry you are here ~ but it's great to add another Proton patient.

You and I have met.  But it was a long time ago '86?

Tony

PAN

Thanks and welcome.

I realize that not all can afford to travel for proton treatment but we should take the opportunity to spread the word about proton and it's benefit without most of the side affects of other treatment options.

I will be placing your blog on my site if you have no objection. 

Again welcome and so glad your treatment went so well.

Richad 

Pan:

Good job on your blog about your experience with Loma Linda and proton.

You stated  "Other than the above side effects the treatments caused changes in diet, life style or sexual activity" - was this a typo?  I found the treatments made NO changes in these areas.  Best wishes to you both.

Dutch

Dutch - Yes that was a typo which I will fix as soon as I find it...Thanks

Smilingoldcoot or anyone else - Please if you find my blog of value please feel free to link to it.

Regarding affordability
The cost is high if it is not covered by insurance. I was very lucky my insurance, United Healthcare, covered all but a minimal amount of $2850. Others were covered by Medicare, some by the VA and others to a lesser extent by insurance. The people who had it the worst in terms of cost, ~$150,000, were those coming from out of the country of which there were a surprising number. Two guys from outside the country who became good friends, one from Australia and the other who from France and who had worked on the Super Collider.

In the next few days I hope to have my blog updated to give you some idea of the treatment results to date. In short I feel strong full of stamina with no detectable side effects other than I am still on Flowmax. My expectation is to be able to wean myself form the need of Flowmax over the next few weeks.

Dutch you found the typo in my blog "Other than the above side effects the treatments caused changes in diet, life style or sexual activity..." I looked for it last night but couldn't find it. Do you happen to know which of the articles I wrote had it in it? I did find a number of other grammatical errors I hope I fixed all of them. I find it very hard to see errors I make in my writing unless I can give it a number of days between readings. Thanks for the help.

Pam, Welcome to Healing Well. Good to see another Loma Linda Proton Brother  here. Haven't read your Blog as yet, but I'm sure it will be familiar. Continue your Healing and Live Life.

Ken