Proton-Beam Radiation Therapy

> Has any one had, or know anything about, proton-beam radiation therapy (as
> opposed to conventional x-radiation therapy) for treatment of PCa?
> Supposedly it's designed to deliver a higher dosage to a more focused area
> with fewer side affects. As I understand it's only done at Loma Linda
> University Medical Center and Mass General.

If you put "proton beam loma linda" into the search box at the top of
the board, you'll get almost 200 hits from people asking about,
explaining, and citing results of this treatment. Good luck.
Dave Perry

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>As I understand it's only done at Loma Linda University Medical Center and
>Mass General.

And I believe at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Larry & I considered
it for his treatment and had a long discussion with the head of the
department but we decided on robotic surgery instead.

Jean

> Has any one had, or know anything about, proton-beam radiation therapy (as
> opposed to conventional x-radiation therapy) for treatment of PCa?
> Supposedly it's designed to deliver a higher dosage to a more focused area
> with fewer side affects. As I understand it's only done at Loma Linda
> University Medical Center and Mass General.

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> Has any one had, or know anything about, proton-beam radiation therapy (as
> opposed to conventional x-radiation therapy) for treatment of PCa?
> Supposedly it's designed to deliver a higher dosage to a more focused area
> with fewer side affects. As I understand it's only done at Loma Linda
> University Medical Center and Mass General.

My husband recently completed 42 proton beam radiation treatments at
Loma Linda. You are correct in the "fewer side effects" statement, or
at least that was his experience and that of many of the other
patients whom we met. The only side effects he experienced were minor
urinary urgency and burning, which were controlled with Flomax.

There are currently five proton treatment centers in the US: (1) Loma
Linda (the oldest and most experienced), (2) Mass General, (3) a
hospital whose name I forget in Indiana, (4) MD Anderson in Houston
and (5) University of Florida in Jacksonville.

His last treatment was on May 31 so we don't yet know the efficacy of
the treatment. His first post-treatment PSA will be done at the four
month mark, in late September.

If you want to read all the details of his treatment, I have set up a
blog which chronicled our adventures at Loma Linda. The address is:

http://paulsprotontreatment.blogspot.com/

Please be advised that Loma Linda had recurrent equipment problems
during our stay. These problems can result in delays or sometimes
rescheduled treatment days. If you have a lot of patience, this
probably will not bother you at all.

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chasjac too - 21 Jun 2007 12:54 GMT

> [snip]
> There are currently five proton treatment centers in the US: ... (3) a
> hospital whose name I forget in Indiana, ...

Maybe the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington, Ind?

Their website is http://www.mpri.org/.

--charlie

Signature

6/2006 PSA 5.2
DRE suspicious
7/2006 Biopsy
2 of 10 positive
Gleason 7(3+4)
11/2006 LRP
Clear margins
1/2007 PSA < 0.01
3/2007 PSA < 0.01
6/2007 PSA < 0.01
so far, so good

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mdrawson - 22 Jun 2007 02:17 GMT

I'll check out the blog Thank you. Is this treatment an option if the
prostate has already been removed (i.e. for scavenging remaining bits?)

>> Has any one had, or know anything about, proton-beam radiation therapy
>> (as
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> rescheduled treatment days. If you have a lot of patience, this
> probably will not bother you at all.

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CW89134 - 22 Jun 2007 04:39 GMT

> I'll check out the blog Thank you. Is this treatment an option if the
> prostate has already been removed (i.e. for scavenging remaining bits?)

I've heard that there have been patients who have had proton treatment
as salvage but I don't know of any first hand. Suggest you contact
Loma Linda (or whatever proton center you're interested in) directly
and ask this question.

Loma Linda's toll free number is 1-800-PROTONS (USA only).

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> Has any one had, or know anything about, proton-beam radiation therapy (as
> opposed to conventional x-radiation therapy) for treatment of PCa?
> Supposedly it's designed to deliver a higher dosage to a more focused area
> with fewer side affects. As I understand it's only done at Loma Linda
> University Medical Center and Mass General.

My husband recently completed 42 proton beam radiation treatments at
Loma Linda. You are correct in the "fewer side effects" statement, or
at least that was his experience and that of many of the other
patients whom we met. The only side effects he experienced were minor
urinary urgency and burning, which were controlled with Flomax.

There are currently five proton treatment centers in the US: (1) Loma
Linda (the oldest and most experienced), (2) Mass General, (3) a
hospital whose name I forget in Indiana, (4) MD Anderson in Houston
and (5) University of Florida in Jacksonville.

His last treatment was on May 31 so we don't yet know the efficacy of
the treatment. His first post-treatment PSA will be done at the four
month mark, in late September.

If you want to read all the details of his treatment, I have set up a
blog which chronicled our adventures at Loma Linda. The address is:

http://paulsprotontreatment.blogspot.com/

Please be advised that Loma Linda had recurrent equipment problems
during our stay. These problems can result in delays or sometimes
rescheduled treatment days. If you have a lot of patience, this
probably will not bother you at all.

Reply to this Message