Proton Therapy -- 6 weeks post completion Report

Proton Therapy -- 6 week post completion Report:

It has now been 6 weeks since I completed my proton beam therapy treatment at IU Health at Bloomington, Indiana. During the course of my treatment I filed weekly reports concerning the treatment process and my personal experience thereto. My final treatment was Oct. 19, 2011.

At the time my treatment was completed, I was experiencing "minor" side effects including burning during urination, increased frequency of urination, and urinary "urgency."

Six (6) weeks later I am happy to report that all of those side effects have pretty much gone away. I still have some urinary burn after my morning coffee, but with water and other liquids urination is pretty much normal. Increased frequency has completely gone away. In fact, I am now urinating less often than before. A combination, I believe, of the shrinkage of my prostate caused by the proton radiation and the daily flomax capsule I am taking. In any event, it is much better than before treatment. Likewise, the sudden and unexpected "urgency" to urinate (like immediately if not sooner!) has gone away completely.

I am just about ready to pronounce myself as back to normal, or maybe even better than what was "normal" prior to treatment. I understand that proton beam therapy is to some people a controversial subject, but I am living proof that as to minimal side effects, it delivers what is promised.

Steve

Steve, great report and I'm happy you are doing so well.  While I ultimately ended up with brachy, PBT was a serious contender with me and during the past three years since my treatment I have continued to hear good things about PBT.

The only hesitation I had when I made my decision was that (at that time) much of the great news about PBT seemed to be anecdotal.  In your investigation were you able to find newer studies that showed substantiated long term cure and QOL data?  I think if that were posted here it would be a great addition to our body of knowledge.

Again, I'm really happy for you and wish you many years of low PSA scores and high QOL,

Tudpock (Jim)