Posted by Jim Tuggey on January 23rd, 2012 — Posted in General
Amazing that I am here in 2012 and am totally free of prostate cancer.
It is in the best interest of all of men with prostate cancer and other cancers and all women who fit in other categories with their cancer, to find friends in the financial community who believe in “protons” and have the power to insure that more people have the opportunity to use what Protons have to offer.
The debates about “Protons” and their efficacy are clearly lopsided and some of the result is that people who could benefit from Proton Therapy are denied the opportunity.
Shameful conduct in my opinion as the thrust should be to “Find a way” even if it is longer term financing of the treatments by operators of Proton Therapy facilities.
I’ll be 82 next month, and could not be happier with the “by chance meeting with a Doctor who knew about Protons.”
So here we are! I have seen the birth of new grandchildren since I was treated at Loma Linda Medical Center’s Proton facility and I’m enjoying a marriage with a lady who just celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage with me. We love being alive and in my case meeting up with the Proton was marvelous.
Many of us who have had Proton treatment believe that as the new facilities come on-line the price could be adjusted by economic competition. If we can do this the door will open for men and women everywhere who should be able to take advantage of this remarkable technology.
Starting in July 1999 with a PSA of 15.7, on this day, January 22, 2012, my PSA is 0.1, as it has been for over ten years, and I am side effects free.
From my point of view, Protons are the first choice due to the reduced radiation inherent in the Proton application.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on December 23rd, 2011 — Posted in General
Bob Marckini let me contribute my thoughts to him regarding treatment for my prostate cancer treatment completed at Loma Linda in August 1999.
His book, “You Can Beat Prostate Cancer – and You Don’t Need Surgery to Do It”, has been a blessing to hundreds of men. If you have been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer please get his book and read it before you make a move to combat your cancer.
Starting in July 1999 with a PSA of 15.7, on this day, Dec. 20th, my PSA is 0.1, as it has been for over ten years, and I am side effects free.
I wish I knew everyone who decided for treatment with the Proton. I sponsor 28 men who were treated at Loma Linda at the moment, and have seen over 50 different sponsored men with all kinds of symptoms. With very few exceptions all seem happy with the results from proton treatment.
Most amazing to me is the growth of acceptance for the proton from the time when I was treated. Then, only two Proton centers treated the Prostate and now the number is growing every time I look at the statistics on Proton capable medical centers.
I was very happy to see the Mayo Clinic with it’s huge reputation for Medical excellence announce the opening of Proton Treatment centers in Wisconsin and Phoenix, Arizona. MD Anderson listed in a recent business magazine as the Top Cancer Treatment Center has a Proton Treatment facility up and running in Houston, Texas.
It is certain that Dr. James Slater at Loma Linda University and Medical Center will be a model for anyone who has a dream and follows though to see a Proton Center built and continually modernized as they reached their 20th Anniversary in 2010.
From my point of view, Protons are the first choice and all doctors in the references, links on the Internet seem to continue to group protons along with radiation in general without recognizing the importance of the reduced radiation inherent in the Proton application.
Jim Tuggey, Dallas-Fort Worth, Tx
Very Happy Proton Fan
Posted by Jim Tuggey on October 26th, 2011 — Posted in General
My annual physical was yesterday, October 25, 2011 over twelve years since I completed my Prostate cancer treatment at Loma Linda in August 1999. My PSA is 0.1, as it has been for over ten years, and I am side effects free.
The most recent Bob Tales (link here), points out the recent and I believe, significant attempt to stop PSA tests and I disagree with those efforts. If you stop and think about it, without the PSA test I would not have known I had Prostate cancer!
John Hopkins this month released an article that seems to support PSA testing and with their power it should have some influence on the folks who want to stop the tests. Two trials excerpts from John Hopkins follow:
“First, the positive trial was a landmark study carried out in seven European countries that studied 162,000 men who were randomized to PSA screening every four years versus no screening.1 With long-term follow up out to fourteen years, there was a 20% decrease in deaths from prostate cancer in the group of men assigned to screening. However, since only 85% of these patients actually underwent screening, if one includes only the men who were actually tested, the decrease in prostate cancer deaths is 27%. This reduction in death from prostate cancer is similar to the 30% reduction in mortality from breast cancer in women who undergo mammography and the 33% reduction in prostate cancer mortality that occurred in the United States between 1994 and 2003 following the introduction of PSA screening. Thus, the results from the European study support other findings and unequivocally demonstrate that PSA testing can save lives.
The second trial, which was carried out in the United States, was half the size of the European trial. It compared screening with PSA every year for six years with no screening thereafter versus no planned screening. It showed no improvement in prostate cancer mortality at 7 years. In the many sound bites on television and reports in print media proclaiming “no effect”, the words “seven years” were conveniently deleted. This is the major flaw in this study. Death from prostate cancer at seven years is meaningless.”
So, it looks like John Hopkins will continue with the PSA and you can find all their comments at the John Hopkins web site.
Posted by jrolls on August 17th, 2011 — Posted in General
Today is twelve years since I completed my Prostate cancer treatment at Loma Linda in 1999. The Prostate is fine, the PSA is below 0.1 and it’s been largely a side effects free journey.
The Loma Linda experience for me was outstanding. I’ve never been treated by such caring people and I stay in touch with them to this date.
In my opinion, it is unfortunate that we only reach a small number of people with cancers treatable with Protons, and I’ve have been encouraged by the Mayo Clinic announcement that they will have two Proton centers in operation soon.
The current status of Proton Treatment centers in the United States is:
- MGH: Francis H. Burr Proton Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. The Proton Beam Unit was founded in 1962 and has the largest experience with stereotactic radiosurgery of any center in the United States. It makes use of the quantum wave properties of protons to reduce “doses to surrounding tissue beyond the target to a theoretical minimum of zero.”
- LLUMC: James M. Slater, M.D. Proton Treatment and Research Center at Loma Linda University and Medical Center, California (0ver 20 years as of Oct 2010).
- MPRI: Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute at Indiana, University.
- UFPTI: The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute.
- MD Anderson: Anderson Cancer Center’s Proton Center Houston, TX.
- PPTCOK: ProCure Proton Therapy Center Oklahoma City, OK.
- UPENN: The Roberts Proton Therapy Center at University of Pennsylvania Health System.
- HUPTI: Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute. VA.
Others in process:
- NIPTRC: Northern University Proton Therapy and Research Center West Chicago (On Hold)
- CDH: CDH Proton Therapy Center, Warrenville, Illinois (Due to open 19 October at 11AM).
- PPTCNJ: ProCure Proton Therapy Center, New Jersey (Groundbreaking Ceremony took place on 7 April 2010). 40 miles from downtown Manhattan.
- PTCTN: ProCure Proton Therapy Center University of Tennessee Medical Center. (Scheduled to open in 2012/13,)
- SFPC: South Florida Proton Center scheduled to open in 2012.
Posted by jrolls on July 13th, 2011 — Posted in Patient Testimonies
Next week (17th) I return to the Houston Cancer Center MDA, to review my status. I will be there until the 2oth and hope to return home with a bunch of Good news!
I do not wish to visit the radiation machine again, and seem to be slowly getting the hang of how to get better.
I can’t thank all of you who checked up on me and know that I’m better because you did. So here’s a picture of the IMRT machine used in Houston for the treatment that lasted just over five weeks (Weekends not used).
In the meantime, I have been in touch with over 30 men regarding their Proton progress and five others who asked me “What happens”? The reports say that the Proton is still being denied by some and while that is going on many men and some women are happily completing their treatment with protons for a variety of cancers.
I have talked to a lot of people while at MDA and I am amazed at the number I see every day while I am there. The program is well managed and when I go back I will see some friends who are being treated for almost every “cancer” imaginable.
My Prostate is fine, doesn’t even talk to me and seems happy with the treatment I received in 1999 at Loma Linda’s Proton Center. PSA stays at 0.1 at each annual physical in November each year.
So here’s the picture of the equipment in Houston, there is about ten minutes of preparation and then the IMRT radiation treatment lasts from 15 to 30 minutes. I had three Chemo treatments that lasted most of all day, three days and have been here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since last May 2011.
Click photo to see full size
Posted by jrolls on May 6th, 2011 — Posted in General
Here is a nice newsletter that came out the end of last year from the University of Florida’s Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. It is sent out to all former patients and updates everyone on progress being made at the center and other relevant news. Nice laid out and presented, I think many will find this interesting. Here is the web link (CLICK HERE) were you can find the PDF format file of the newsletter. Enjoy.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on May 5th, 2011 — Posted in Patient Testimonies
The first month is complete consisting of IMRT Radiation five days a week and three treatments with Chemo Therapy (once a week) that compliments the IMRT to bring the “Tongue Cancer” to a stop.
The schedule continues through the month of May and if all goes as forecasted I should be “Rid” of this pest by months’ end.
By the end of the third week of treatment I discovered that I could not keep up with an adequate diet to truly maintain my weight and health. The Radiation/ Chemo combination changed my ability to taste and enjoy food. I discovered you can’t live on “Milkshakes” and a product named “Ensure” that delivers a lot of calories but falls short of your total needs.
Thankfully and right on time, in walks the Representative from the Department of Clinical Nutrition and soon you find out the solution to your health needs. “Isosource,” a high calorie medical food, fills the bill and a “peg tube” (feeding tube) is required so they can “fill ‘er up”! At the MDA cancer center this is routine and I suggest you overcome your stubbornness, get it done and “get on with your life”!
Please realize that this is a “Temporary Solution”, it is not a permanent thing and will go away after you are properly fed.
SO my remaining schedule looks like: IMRT May 6
IMRT May 9, IMRT May 10, IMRT May 11, IMRT May 12, IMRT May 13,
IMRT May 16, IMRT May 17, IMRT May 18, IM RT May 19, IMRT May 20,
IMRT May 23, IMRT May 24, IMRT May 25.
These are the last treatments I will have and hope to have a ride home to the Dallas area arranged immediately upon completion.
1 Comment
Posted by Jim Tuggey on April 23rd, 2011 — Posted in General
One of the benefits of treatment for me at MD Anderson Cancer Center was a complete tour of the Proton Therapy Center.
Chuck Merrifield took me to every part of the center and I had a chance to talk to some of the men undergoing Proton Therapy for Prostate cancer.
These men were enthusiastic and one man was anxious to see Proton expand to other applicable areas. I told him that many other body sites were treated and that protons were certain to expand.
Back to treatment – today marks the completion of three Chemotherapy Cycles out of five planned. (Click HERE to read about my new challenge, unrelated to my prostate cancer from years ago)
The Chemo seems to be the biggest challenge to my system and they are very careful to advise you about Pre and follow-up Dental care due to the IMRT impact.
The Doctors and Nurses and others involved in the process are outstanding. I believe that the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s recognition is well deserved and I am astounded by the mix of people being treated from all over the world.
Dr. Frank heads the Proton Therapy Center and he is preparing to expand the scope of this important cancer treatment. These University of Texas facilities are wonderful and they achieve miracles each day.
I’m personally happy that they are working with experience updated to 2011.
3 Comments
Posted by Jim Tuggey on April 4th, 2011 — Posted in General
From March 22 to March 24 my wife and I were in Houston, Texas and have discussed my Cancer with many Cancer experts at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in a most positive medical environment. The MDA team is amazing and up to date with information to use in 2011.
In the Cancer Center “New Patient” check in, Jan and I met the top surgeon, and a very sharp lady who asked me about all my medical history. The Head Radiology Doctor who examined me very thoroughly, looking at the cancer with a scope. He said that my Squamous cell can be treated with IMRT and Chemo and will take about 6 1/2 weeks.
The next day, I started at 6:30 AM preparing for a CT Scan and completed that with no eating from midnight the night before. Then they set me up for a PET Scan at 10:30 (by now I’m starving), over at Nuclear medicine, this involved putting a solution in my system and waiting for one hour before escorting me to a room where the upper torso and the head and neck were two separate parts of this scan.
The week beginning April 4th was all about setting up the Radiation Treatment Schedule and detailed review of every detail. The staff supporting each Oncology department in the Head & Neck Center is superb and knows how to handle all the myriad of problems they face every day.
So after this week of April 4th, I return on the 11th to begin my schedule to defeat this cancer, and I believe the very impressive staff and doctors that insures that the outcome will be successful.
Another bonus is the chance to talk to many people who are undergoing IMRT treatment right now.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on March 19th, 2011 — Posted in General
Next week I’ll be starting again on a new “Cancer” project that has nothing to do with my prostate. The Prostate is fine, the PSA is below 0.1 and it’s been side effects free.
In my youth, I spent years in the sun demonstrating how I could burn myself red and then get the best tan around. That along with driving my car with no sun protection resulted in a few “Basel” cancer cells on the left side of my face that were removed by one of the best, UT Southwestern’s , Dr. Stan Taylor, Professor, MD and an expert at MOH surgery. Then my Dermatologists discovered a Basel cell on the tip of my right ear and once again Dr. Taylor came to the rescue removing that problem with no visible damage.
Now my 81st Birthday present is a “Squamous” cancer cell on the back of my tongue, so off I go to MD Anderson to have that handled by the experts there. On the way I met a remarkable Doctor William Mendenhall, at Shands Cancer center in Gainesville, Florida. He evaluated my situation and convinced me that Radiation therapy was required for this particular job, although to date I have found no one who wants to do this with Protons.
The distance from my home between Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas will not allow me to go to Shands nor Loma Linda so my treatment will be accomplished nearby at M.D. Anderson, Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. I go for the usual introduction next Tuesday, March 22nd and will keep you up to date on how this goes.
You should know that “Radiation” has been around for over 100 years. I read that scientists Becquerel and Rontgen in the late 1800s used radiation applications. Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize winning work with radioactive elements also helped get the ball rolling at the turn of the century.
Scientists and doctors were generally ignorant of the specific reasons why, but the first radiation oncologists cured, from historical record, the first cancer case in 1898.
So, let’s track this along, with a target of about mid-April for the next report.
