Prostate Cancer Blog – Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Today the Operating Proton Centers in the United States are:

LLUMC: James M. Slater, M.D. Proton Treatment and Research Center at Loma Linda University and Medical Center, California
MGH: Francis H. Burr Proton Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.
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:

NIPTRC: Northern University Proton Therapy and Research Center West Chicago (On Hold)
CDH: CDH Proton Therapy Center, A ProCure 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, slated for 2012.
SFPC: South Florida Proton Center scheduled to open in 2012.

Go to Rinecker Proton Therapy Center web site and learn from Dr. Hauffe (Physicist) and Dr. Rinecker PhD., from the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich, Germany. Bob Marckini sums it up in his September news letter, “With all forms of conventional (X-ray) radiotherapy – including the most advanced forms – three to five times more radiation is deposited on healthy tissue than with proton radiotherapy. And all oncologists and physicians agree that the only safe dose of radiation to healthy tissue is a zero dose. Therefore, the chances of collateral damage causing debilitating side effects and delayed secondary cancers is clearly greater with X-rays than with protons.” At the Rinecker Proton Center in Munich, they started treating patients on March 16th, 2009.

Jim Tuggey
1 October 2010
P.S. I have NO side effects 11 plus years since treatment with protons at Loma Linda.

Loma Linda has completed 14,829 Proton treatments to date.  10,281 are Prostate. Head and Neck (822), Chordoma/Chondrasarcoma (562), and brain (506) are the next in line with breast increasing each month.

FYI: A chondrosarcoma is a type of cancer^[1] of the cartilage. Chondrosarcoma is a cartilage-based tumor and is in a category of cancers called sarcomas. About 25% of primary bone cancers (meaning those which start in the bone) are chondrosarcomas.

Since I just passed my 11th year since Proton treatment for Prostate Cancer without side effects, I believe it’s time to restate the truth.

I’ve just re-read 148 comments on the value of Proton Therapy for Prostate cancer.

These were from men who were treated for Prostate cancer with Protons with an “R”, (just reminding you that Photons are X-rays and PRotons are not.)

These comments were written by me and 147 other men in response to an article by Adam Voiland (US News and World Report) in 2007 when he omitted Protons as a viable treatment. In January 2008 he acknowledged all the responses even though he expressed some doubts about Protons even then.

There was NO doubt about it judging by the comments from the men who were treated with protons and cured, sometimes over the objections of their Urologists who were evidently influenced by two things:

• Lack of their own knowledge about the efficacy of protons or,
• Protecting their own investment in training as doctors with primary interest in what they sold ie; Surgery, Robotic Surgery, IMRT radiation (X-Rays), or Bracytherapy (radio active seed implants).

From my personal point of view – I was treated in 1999 and on August 27th 2010 finished 11 years without any side effects. I was treated at Loma Linda California and men who reported with comments to Mr. Voiland had been treated at Loma Linda, MD Anderson, The Florida Proton Institute, Mass General Hospital or Bloomington, Indiana at MPRI

This web site has advocated Protons for over Nine years. You can look at the June 2009 Blog and see a video showing how protons work.

If you have been diagnosed with Prostate cancer contact a Proton center immediately. Go to the “Links” on my home page to get a telephone number and other information.

Check out: www.protonpals.net

This is a site founded by folks treated at MD Anderson and is modeled after Bob Marckini’s site.

I am so happy to report that I have reached another 4th of July and celebrate our “Independence” that has made our country great.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has an interesting article under their healthjournal@wsj.com site reported by Melinda Beck; The Prostate Cancer Quandary. The article explains the dilemma for the doctors and scientists in separating aggressive cancers from those that may not ever need treatment.

However, the question, “what do I do today?” is what the men who call or e-mail me ask. The psychological impact on the “recently diagnosed” is not answered by what will be done or could be accomplished in the future.

If I am a good example, almost eleven years (Aug 27th) post treatment without side effects, of what the Proton can do and I know many men who have had success with Protons, I still wonder why it is ignored by so many doctors.

Despite this concern, we still need research of the type cited in the WSJ article and everyone who can, should see that the research scientists and doctors are funded to continue their efforts. Loma Linda works with many experts outside their community and call on the best brains in the world to provide input to their studies.

In the next two Blog posts you will hear from friends of mine who have had Proton treatment for their Prostate cancer at Loma Linda, one very recently and one a few years ago, and I hope that they serve to expand your knowledge of this remarkable Proton treatment breakthrough that has helped so many men, women and children combat cancer over the past 19 years.

I just returned from a meeting at Loma Linda, CA and talked to the folks who run that great program with continuing success.

Loma Linda’s Proton center is very close to 10,000 Prostate treatments and should pass that milestone easily in 2010.

It was thrilling to learn specifics about continual updates of their internal skills and studies of methods to treat the Prostate and more cancerous and benign tumor sites in shorter times and at lower costs.

So, what about a second opinion? Absolutely, and these days it way include a second opinion on cost and insurance options.

The cost of medical care is making everyone nervous, however with new advancements in medicine we should be on the team that sees yesterday’s 65 as today’s 75 and recognize that “talent” should not be compromised by the aging process.

I’m 80 and don’t have any plans to stop providing information to folks who need to know about the positive advantages of the “Proton”, that’s the one with an “R”! [I Like to emphasize that since Photons (X-Rays) are only a letter away from being great while Protons unfortunately are often classified as “Radiation” without explanation that respects the advantages of this wonderful treatment.]

You may not know that Loma Linda has added “Breast, Lung, and Liver” to the diagnosis category that they treat with Protons, all of these began in 2007.

What we need now is Research funding to accelerate these advances in the use of the Proton and get them “on line” as soon as possible.

For me, another month without any “side effects” and I’ll let you assume that from now on.

If you have questions email me at this address. I usually respond to you in one hour or less.

It amazes me to read remarks from distinguished Oncologists, Radiologists, and Urologists who are selling their particular treatment for Prostate cancer.

One Radiation Oncologist (who ends his comments with “I know”) is dead wrong or dealing with old data.

And the costs estimates by these folks are all over the place. I would expect higher costs from the newer centers, but the costs tend to settle back to reasonable for the result, as time passes and competition increases. So let’s look at my take based on actual experience rather than conjecture or speculation which is often based on NO experience with Protons.

Here’s my take based on my personal experience and interviews with other patients who also chose “Protons” (with a “R”) for Prostate cancer.

My Prostate cancer showed up in January 1999 as a rise in my PSA 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.

As early as 1999, that was the best advice I’ve ever received.

The average age for Prostate Cancer in 1999 was 69 years old and I was 69 years old. In the “Support Group” meeting at Loma Linda I found that we had men in the program from 40 to 83 years old.

Today Medicare and most insurance companies still pay the bill and should forever. And, if there is a problem, the expert insurance staff at most Proton centers can help you.

“It’s April 1, 2010, I’m cancer free! I do not have any side effects whatsoever. In fact, I asked for a Colonoscopy after my Proton treatment from a local expert and it did not reveal ANY DAMAGE from this form of “Radiation” (Protons with an “R”)!

Talk to a PROTON EXPERT, at Loma Linda, CA; MD Anderson, Houston, TX; Proton Institute in Jacksonville, Florida, University of Pennsylvania’s new center, and others. Ultimately, you have to make the decision regarding your treatment. The “Links” on this site may help.

A new Procure Cancer Center using Protons just opened in Oklahoma City in July 2009! More are planned and on the way.

Almost all Urologist or surgeons recommend surgery and radiation oncologists “IMRT”, seeds (Brachytherapy, minimum low x-ray radiation) or traditional radiation with all of it’s new names.

The problem is that almost all radiation treatments use X-Rays up to and including “Cyberknife”. Protons on the other hand are NOT X-Rays, extremely accurate, and have the unique capability of being more precisely controlled for application to the cancer or benign tumor.

You can visit this website www.protonblog.com and watch the video about Protons first entered in the June 2009 Blog.

The FACTS are that Worldwide about 60,000 have been so treated with Protons for many cancerous and benign tumors. Loma Linda Proton center is the leader in this technology. The contact number for Loma Linda new patients is: (800) 496-4966.

A former Loma Linda employee and my friend Gerry Troy, University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, (904) 588-1251 or mobile (904) 874-3040 ‘gtroy’ at floridaproton.org is a patient advocate at Jacksonville.

M.D. Anderson, the top rated Cancer Center in Texas, has a “Proton” center that opened in 2006.

Effectiveness and outcome of prostate treatment using protons (or almost any other treatment methodology), depends on your condition when being treated. I was 69 when treated in 1999, in good shape and now I am 80 (as of Feb. 4, 2010).

The results normally depend on your PSA, Gleason Score and Staging. My PSA was 15.9, my Gleason 6, my Staging T1c. In my last physical in Nov. 2009 my PSA is less than 0.1 as it has been for over six years.

Bob Marckini wrote the book You Can Beat Prostate Cancer And You Don’t Need Surgery to Do It, is available at www.protonbob.com, Amazon.com or LuLu Publications.

Since the MD Anderson’s Proton Center opened in mid-2006 and they have treated many patients with protons in fact, the first Proton treatment there was provided to a retired Air Force Colonel with “Lung cancer”.

I am not a Doctor, only a happy former patient, I HAVE NO SIDE EFFECTS! 10 YEARS, 7 MONTHS, post treatment. Seems like a no-brainer when you have a non-invasive treatment that works.

Those who do not favor protons obviously need to do their homework and learn what’s going on. For example, Mass General Hospital’s Proton center has used “Protons” since 1961 and began treating prostates in 1979, although today their focus is not on Protons for Prostate Cancer favoring Protons for other cancers and often focused on children.

The Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute (MPRI) in Bloomington, IN has been in business for some time with protons and started on Prostate cancer in 2004. The Proton Institute University of Florida in Jacksonville, FL, is open, and I went to the opening on Oct. 13th 2006 and at that time met 15 men who had already been treated.

With Hampton University in Hampton Virginia open now, two in the Chicago area and the University of Pennsylvania open, and treating now, similar facilities along with the Siteman Cancer Center in St Louis, and two new centers in Oklahoma City (one now open), along with a Proton center in Miami this is the rapidly growing approach to treat Prostate Cancer and many other cancers and benign tumors.

In fact you will also find a link to Protons in South Korea here.

Loma Linda, where I was treated, treats many other diseases with protons including:

Choroidal Melanoma, Pituitary, Acoustic Neuroma, Meningioma, Astrocytoma, Other Brain, Head and Neck, Prostate, Other Pelvis, Craniopharyngioma, Orbital, Paraspinal Tumors, Chordoma/Chondrosacoma, Sarcoma, Other chest, AVM, Other Abdominal, SNVM, Breast, Lung Liver.

I merely relate my experience and do not receive pay of any kind to tell people about my successful experience with Protons. Although I study Protons from one to three hours daily since 1999, here’s my caveat!

NO MEDICAL ADVICE: Material appearing here represents opinions offered by non-medically-trained laypersons. Comments shown here should NEVER be interpreted as specific medical advice and must be used only as background information when consulting with a qualified medical professional.

E-mail me. I usually respond to you in one hour or less.

In my prior blog post (Feb. 13, 2010) I answered the question “Where can you find out about Proton Therapy?” because so many Prostate cancer diagnosed patients never hear of it.

Since some of you may not visit the home page of my web site, here is important information from that page:

“Dr. James Slater MD had the vision and was the impetus for starting Proton treatment in a University environment at Loma Linda, Ca. and he recognized that Protons [with an “R”] act differently than conventional three dimensional radiation or IMRT (and many other disguises) that use focused Photons (X-Rays) and all other modalities that use X-Rays.”

A very important difference and this June 24th, 2009 blog post includes a video explaining how the proton works. Please look at the information concerning the “Bragg Peak” and how its action relates to Proton treatment and the proton’s accuracy. It takes the right tools to do the job and Loma Linda has the tools and “leading edge” experience with Prostate Cancer, treating over 9,500 men through 2009 for Prostate cancer and over 14,000 for other cancers and benign conditions.

Simply put, X-rays (using Photons with an “H”) cannot be controlled and go through the body while Protons with an “R” can be completely controlled to hit the cancerous target and then drop to zero charge eliminating any out bound damage to other tissue.

Bob Marckini wrote the book “You Can Beat Prostate Cancer And You Don’t Need Surgery to Do It” and it is available at www.protonbob.com, Amazon.com or LuLu Publications.

Go to my home page, read the “Links” and find out how to contact me by email. I usually respond to you in one hour or less.

A recent study publicized recently seems to indicate that learning about Prostate cancer treatment depends on who you visit to provide Prostate Cancer care.

I read, and or talk about Protons every day for at least three hours or more seven days a week to keep up to speed on what’s happening and I find that the kind of treatment may be recommended may depend on what the local hospital can do on site rather than what is available if you know where to look.

THAT IS WHAT THIS WEBSITE IS ALL ABOUT.

I want you to go to www.protonbob.com and read the many testimonies that are there all from actual Proton patients who, like me, want to spread the good news.

A few years ago I wrote a Blog post about the responsibility of Doctors to know all the treatments that work and tell the patient so he or she can make their own decision based on what is right for their situation; so ask them about Protons.

I read recently that the Northern Illinois University Proton site may be in funding trouble and will be delayed. That’s too bad since it is almost located on top of Fermi Labs in West Chicago where the medical value of the Proton was first identified by Dr. Wilson. The laboratory was founded in 1967 as the National Accelerator Laboratory; it was renamed in honor of Enrico Fermi in 1974. The lab’s first director was Robert Rathbun Wilson, who was part of the Manhattan Project.

The picture to the right is Robert R. Wilson Hall located in West Chicago.

Go to my home page read the “Links” and find out how to contact me by E-mail. I usually respond to you in one hour or less.

The “Dedication” of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center in Philadelphia, PA., was held on November 23, 2009 and the staff expects to begin Patient Treatment by mid-winter.

To learn more about this Center you can read the latest news here.

“U Penn has partnerships with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the U.S. Department of Defense will allow pediatric cancer patients and U.S. military service members and their families to be treated at the Center”.

Let’s talk seriously about living to 85 years old and having an active life. About 1995 my wife received an autographed copy of “New Passages” by Gail Sheehy when we attended a talk by the author. She decried the parameter for middle age, stating that “adulthood, beginning at 21 and ending at 65″ was out of date. Her overview expects women and men to exceed the end of active life at 65 and go on to 90 or better.

So, if you are going to do what she envisions, let’s get after the cancer issue and use the Proton as a way to conquer this dreaded disease and expand your lifetime horizons.

I will be 80 in February 2010 and with a prostate cancer free life, so I’m already meeting some of Ms. Sheehy’s expectations.