Prostate Cancer Blog – Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

CHRISTMAS IS HERE 2012 –
PROSTATE CANCER IS GONE

Wonderful? Absolutely! And, absolutely disproves some of the claims, attacks, and distortions being directed at proton therapy by both Medical experts who should know better, ONE flawed study used “billing codes” instead of facts that are evident in my experience and with many like me.

Hard for me to believe that I will be 83 on February 4th, 2013 and my prostate cancer is gone. I was lucky to find Loma Linda’s Proton facility and a good friend in Fort Worth, Texas who received his MD training at Loma Linda told me where to go to get rid of the Cancer in early 1999.

I still meet men complaining about the consequences of their treatment from IMRT, prostate Surgery, Robotic prostate surgery, and other treatments to include side effects that I have never had.

Bob Marckini has started his “Mythbuster” series of articles on the ten myths about proton therapy. His team will debunk these myths, one at a time, with facts and reputable, published studies. I will try to include any part of Bob’s effort in future 2013 Proton reports.

As Bob says, “Stay tuned”.

And WITH PROTONS A GREAT OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE!

Isn’t it interesting the way information can be “spun” by those with an agenda, to make a point that fits their cause? One of the best examples of this is the political debates and subsequent analyses on network and cable television. They even have “spin rooms” where pundits from each side get together and take snippets of the debate (often out of context) to make their candidate look good and the other guy look bad.

Here’s another example of spinning the data: The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accidental deaths caused by physicians per year are 120,000, or 0.171 per physician. The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80 million and, according to the FBI, the number of accidental gun deaths per year is 1,500. So, the number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.0000188. Therefore, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. I guess you can conclude–guns don’t kill people … doctors do.

Ridiculous? Absolutely. But, this is no less ridiculous than some of the claims, attacks, and distortions being directed at proton therapy.

Early this year a terribly flawed study from the University of North Carolina, looking backwards, using Medicare billing codes to identify what they thought were side effects, concluded that proton therapy for prostate cancer is no better than IMRT, and proton produces more rectal side effects. All the other prospective, scientific, peer-reviewed studies, which reached different conclusions, were ignored. Nevertheless, the media loved it and ran with it. Clearly there was another “agenda” at work here.

But, truth, justice, and the facts are on our side. This month we begin our “Mythbuster” series of articles on the ten myths about proton therapy. We will debunk these myths, one at a time, with facts and reputable, published studies.

Our group consists of more than half the men alive today who have had proton therapy for prostate cancer. We have members representing every proton center in the U.S. and three overseas. Our 2009 survey of BOB membership showed conclusively that prostate cancer cure rates were at least as good as the best alternatives and quality of life after treatment far superior by every measure. A subsequent, scientific survey of our membership was far more comprehensive. These results have been analyzed and are soon to be published. We will let the results and the facts speak for themselves.

Stay tuned, Bob Marckini

In my June 26, 2012 blog, “PSA Test is the answer for now!” I suggested that PSA testing was important.

The NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH brings us FOX Channel’s doctors under the title “House call with Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld” on TV program that aired September 16, 2012. The two doctors discussed PSA testing and emphasized “DIAGNOSE EARLY“ and the important role that PSA testing plays.

Loma Linda’s Proton facility filled in the blanks and now that they have over 11,745 patients treated at their Proton facility for prostate cancer alone it might be a good idea to get a proton expert at Loma Linda in on the conversation that to me seems widely “income oriented” rather than finding the best tests and treatment for men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Bob Marckini, my close friend, has a widely read book You Can Beat Prostate Cancer And You Don’t Need Surgery To Do It. This is a valuable book and when Bob finishes his new book it will expand your knowledge.

Go to this page (click here) and watch the videos – you will learn a lot about Protons and Loma Linda and can apply much of what you learn to the new “Proton Treatment Centers” that have come on line to date.

The remarkable “Protons” are here to stay and PSA tests will help you decide when to take control and get this treatment!

This month, I received an email from a man who asked about making financial investments in “Protons”. I did not have a recommendation and suggested that if you wish to know more, contact the Proton users. Some Proton centers are medical center based and others have separated from the hospital organizations and have gone in different directions that specialize in the use of protons. I do not believe that there is more experience with the protons than with the users of Protons at Loma Linda, California and Roberts Proton Therapy Center at University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA.

I do expect that the operation of Proton centers in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic (two sites) and others will expand the knowledge and use of the Proton.

It is easy to understand why protons are not welcome in some circles where the knowledge pool is involved in everything from “Robotic Surgery” to include IMRT radiation other protocols. To me, if you or your urologist don’t have the Proton capability, pick up the telephone and talk to those who do. Or…. look at the videos on this web site – they help tell the story.

I believe that if a doctor is in a smaller city or town environment, all he or she may have to offer is surgery or traditional radiation as a form of treatment.

What is unfortunate for these folks is the fact that they do what they have to do. In the talks I have provided to men with Prostate cancer, there have been three reactions to what I have to say: “I didn’t know about that”, “I’m sure glad that I found out about protons” and unfortunately some too late with the comment “I’ve already had surgery”.

Hard to find fault with a treatment that took my 15.6 PSA in 1999 down to 0.1, where it has stayed to date, September 4, 2012!

My brother-in-law finishes up at Loma Linda’s Proton Facility this month and tells me that the LLUMC staff at the Proton center and the overall staff at this wonderful facility have impressed him in every way, from knowledge to service for the patient.

In the meantime I have been reading a number of the available medical advice papers that lists Radiation Therapy, Hormone Therapy, Surgery, Cryoablation, and last “old Faithful” Watchful Waiting. The unfortunate facts are that these suggestions are not uncommon and once again, Proton radiation is not mentioned on these pamphlets.

In fact, the following quote seems to decide for the men who are diagnosed; that “surgery” is the answer!?

“Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer killer of American men, and 1 in 6 will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. In 2012, more than 240,000 men will get the chilling diagnosis — and then be faced with the decision of whether or not to undergo surgery.”

My personal experience tells me to say “no” to surgery, a course of action that was suggested to me in 1999 by my Urologist in Texas. By pure luck I met a Doctor in Fort Worth, Texas who told me in specific terms – “Go to Loma Linda’s Proton Center, that’s where they kill cancer.”

Hard to find fault with a treatment that took my 15.6 PSA down to 0.1 in August 1999, where it has stayed to this date!

Two months ago, it was the Medicare agency, AHRQ, that released a report based on shoddy, unscientific, retrospective study, using billing codes to compare morbidity outcomes from prostate cancer treatments. The study concluded that IMRT is just as good as proton, and if produced significantly fewer rectal side effects. This “Study” contradicted all other, scientific, peer-reviewed, prospective studies on proton therapy. No attempt was made to rationalize these differences or even acknowledge them.

The U.S. Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) the same group that abandoned mammograms for women- has made it official. They are formally recommending that PSA testing be discontinued because they feel it doesn’t save lives, it may be harming men and costing lives. Remember, before PSA testing physicians would not treat the disease until it presented symptoms, such as problems with urine flow, blood in the urine etc.
How barbaric! Since many times the delay waiting until symptoms show up, the disease is typically advanced. In my own case I left a job in Singapore with a 3.6 PSA in January 1999 and had a biopsy that spring showing my PSA rising from 3.6 to 12.6. I did not do anything about it until it my PSA went to 15.9and then I was advised by a friend of mine who is a Doctor to go to Loma Linda for PROTON treatment. I never heard of Proton treatment prior to his statement. Look at the videos on this web site and learn!
That was the best advice I’ve ever received. Let me repeat, I have NO side effects and I was treated from July to 27 August 1999. Let’s see, that would be 13 years ago in August 2012 –13 years.
The remarkable “Protons” are here to stay and PSA tests are essential!

We were pleased to be recognized this month as one of the top Prostate blog sites on the web. We were notified by HealthLine, a health related web site dedicated to offering trusted, accurate education and decision support resources.

Along with Prostate Blog, these 13 other sites were recognized:

• His Prostate Cancer
• Women Against Prostate Cancer (WAPC)
• Prostate Cancer Journey
• Advanced Robotic Techniques Prostatectomy
• Prostate Cancer – Our Journey!
• The Big “C”
• Cycle for Life
• Malecare Advanced Prostate Cancer Program
• The Palpable Prostate
• My New York Minute
• God and Prostate
• The Prostate Cancer Pony Express
• Conquer Prostate Cancer

Two months ago, it was the Medicare agency, AHRQ, that released a report based on shoddy, unscientific, retrospective study, using billing codes to compare morbidity outcomes from prostate cancer treatments. The study concluded that IMRT is just as good as proton, and if produced significantly fewer rectal side effects. This “Study” contradicted all other, scientific, peer-reviewed, prospective studies on proton therapy. No attempt was made to rationalize these differences or even acknowledge them.

The U.S. Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) the same group that abandoned mammograms for women- has made it official. They are formally recommending that PSA testing be discontinued because they feel it doesn’t save lives, it may be harming men and costing lives. Remember, before PSA testing physicians would not treat the disease until it presented symptoms, such as problems with urine flow, blood in the urine etc.

How barbaric! Since many times the delay waiting until symptoms show up, the disease is typically advanced. In my own case I left a job in Singapore with a 3.6 PSA in January 1999 and had a biopsy that spring with tests showing my PSA rising from 3.6 to 12.6. I did not do anything about it until it my PSA went to 15.9 and then I was advised by a friend of mine who is a Doctor to go to Loma Linda for PROTON treatment. I never heard of Proton treatment prior to his statement. Look at the videos on this web site and learn!

That was the best advice I’ve ever received. Let me repeat, I have NO side effects and I was treated from July to 27 August 1999. Let’s see, that would be 13 years ago in August 2012 –13 years.

The remarkable “Protons” are here to stay and PSA tests are essential!

“Men should be cautious about drawing conclusions from a single observational study which has not been peer-reviewed.”

The excerpt above from a distinguished Doctor who evidently has ignored the over 20 years experience at Loma Linda’s Proton facility and the fact that they have treated over 16,000 patients (over 10,000 Prostate cancer patients since the early “90s”) for all forms of cancer and benign conditions.

It may be interesting to understand that the Loma Linda Proton Center experts take on all kinds of tumors both cancerous and benign. They in fact have taken on some cancer challenges that others would not attempt due to their lack of experience in using the full effectiveness of the Proton.

However, let me repeat, I have NO side effects and I was treated in July 1999. Let’s see, that would be almost 13 years ago!

Let’s make it clear, I do not take a penny from anyone to support this BLOG. I receive wonderful and expert advice from a professional in operating the web site and do not pay him either. So try to ignore the continued marketing of mis-information about the Proton by IMRT proponents and other competition “who consider proton therapy a fad and discount it.”

Protons are here to stay

Below is a very well done video from the folks at ProCure that seeks to discuss the various common methods used to treat prostate cancer, and compares them to how Protons are used for treatment. The animations are helpful in understanding what the differences in the approaches are.