Prostate Cancer Blog – Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

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.

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.