Prostate Cancer Blog – Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

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!

Dallas Morning News, September 5, 2012

Dallas Market Center Land L.P. is seeking city approval to develop the land for the Dallas Proton Treatment Center

UT Southwestern Medical Center plans to operate the $225 million, 100,000-square-foot advanced medical facility.

This is to be owned and funded by Advanced Particle Therapy a San Diego based firm that owns similar facilities in San Diego, Baltimore and Atlanta.

Dr. Bruce Meyer, executive VP for health system affairs at UTSW, said in a statement, “this is an exciting development in our ability to offer patients in the region  access to the best possible treatment options and provide a leadership role in how to best apply this technology.”

At least someone in the Dallas area is interested in using “protons” and I am happy!  This would be about 40 minutes from my home.

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!