Proton Radiation Therapy -- My Journey With Prostate Cancer -- Treatment Period 2/22/07-4/18/07

Thank you. I most certainly will. I have become quite vested in this forum over the last month or so. My thread is probably a couple of pages down right now, but I will update it as I move forward with treatment. I have nothing but praise for the people and the facility at Loma Linda. Bob is scheduled to be at LL next month and I will make it a point to sit in at whatever activity he hosts.

I have updated my 1st posting as follows:

First PSA Test 3 months after treatment (7/19/07):

The good news is that my PSA declined from 7.1 to 2.1 or 70%.  According to my radiation oncologist, this exceeded average expectations of a reduction in PSA of 50% three months after treatment.  This is just the beginning of a long journey ahead for PSA testing after treatment, but I am happy to be off to a good start.  With radiation treatment it can take up to 24 months to reach the PSA nadir (i.e., desired low point of under 0.5). I am realistic that the future holds hope, but no promises at this point. Nevertheless, I am optomistic about the future and trying to live each day to the fullest now.

Dave

That 2.1 is an outstanding result, Dave.  I am really happy for you - congratulations!  It must be a big relief.  I had my blood drawn last week and should have the results in a few days. 

Regards,

Bill

My next PSA test will be at the 6-month mark (i.e., October 2007).  It is very important to use the same lab for PSA tests to help assure consistency for comparision purposes with the previous tests.  Changing labs can only add more stress to the test process!

Ken--your first PSA test after treatment was about a 50% reduction which is what my radiation oncologist told me was the average expectation for the 1st 3-month test. 

I am using the same urologist who performed my biopsy and PSA test before treatment. He recommended the top rated robotic surgeon at the same hospital for my treatment.  He told me that I could talk to the top IMRT/IMGT radiation oncologist at the same hospital, but his endorsement was not very enthusiastic!  I decided that I did not want to pursue IMRT (x-ray radiation).

My urologist does not seem well informed about proton radiation.  I was a little concerned about my 1st visit with him after treatment because I did not take his advice and have surgery.  However, he told me that some of his other patients have had radiation treatment (probably IMRT).  He said that I was his first patient who has been treated with proton radiation.  This is not surprising because there is no proton treatment center in this major city where he practices medicine. 

I sent him a letter after my proton treatment giving him the details of my treatment and why I selected it.  I think he is a very good urologist at a top hospital--I have no reason to believe that he will be biased because of the treatment I selected. 

Dutch--your PSA results after proton radiation treatment several years ago are most encouraging.  I hope I can match them as I go forward!

Dave

Dave:

Had been wondering how you were doing.  Assume you are getting back into a 'normal' routine and not having any problems, at least I hope so.  Take care.

Dutch 

Thanks for thinking of me!  All is well.  Just felt the need to pull back from this forum for awhile--some of us reach the stage of prostate cancer forum burnout.  I will be meeting with my radiation oncologist later in October (1st appointment six months after treatment) and I expect to have my 2nd or 6 month PSA test by then also.  It will hopefully show a continued downward trend.  All the best.

Dave

P.S. Susan--I am happy to see that Don's PSA continues to be very low!  Continued good luck to him.

I completed my 2nd or 6 month post-treatment PSA on 10/11/07.  My pretreatment PSA was 7.1 and it dropped to 2.1 three months after treatment.  At six month after treatment, there was a slight bump up to 2.4.  My radiation oncologist said that I should not be concerned about the slight increase because it can take from 2-3 years to reach the nadir (low point) and along the way the pattern may exhibit some slight upward variations during the longer path of a continued downward trend toward the nadir.  This slight increase in PSA at this time would not be considered PSA bounce unless the upward trend were to continue.  Inasmuch as my three-month PSA dropped 70% (compared to an average expected drop of 50% or less), I am still considered to be ahead of the game.  The key is to live life to the fullest, don't dwell on the PSA tests too much and keep an optimistic view of the future!

Cheers!

Dave

P.S. Thanks to Bluebird and many others who have given me support along the way!