Posted by Jay Rolls on November 17th, 2010 — Posted in Proton Facilities
We noticed this just posted to the Hampton University web site:
“The 98,000 sq. ft Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) is open for patient treatment.”
We take that to mean they are up and running. You can take a look at their timeline HERE.
Hampton University has joined the fight against cancer in opening the nation’s 8th proton therapy facility, the largest in the world. The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) brings the latest, most precise cancer-fighting technology to Virginia and beyond.
HUPTI is the first proton therapy institute in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and the only such facility in Virginia. The $225 million, state-of-the-art research and treatment center will treat over 2,000 patients per year including prostate, breast, lung, eye, brain and pediatric cancers.
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Posted by Jim Tuggey on October 1st, 2010 — Posted in General
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.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on September 30th, 2010 — Posted in General, Proton Facilities
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.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on September 1st, 2010 — Posted in General
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.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on August 8th, 2010 — Posted in Patient Testimonies
My Journey to Find the Cure for My Prostate Cancer
With No Quality of Life Consequences
August the 4th, 2009, I received the results of my annual and routine PSA test. The result was 4.1, not very high, but greater than the 4.0 established as the upper limit of the acceptable range. My PSA increased about 80% from 18 months ago. My urologist scheduled another and more rigorous PSA test for confirmation, and it also was 4.1 with a percent free of 19. He asked if I wanted a biopsy and I said yes. In mid-September, the results showed a “very, very small” tumor of 1mm involving 5% of one of the 12 core samples with a Gleason 6(3+3). The urologist suggested Avodart and watchful waiting but I insisted on a curative approach. He set up consultations with a robotic surgeon and a photon radiation oncologist. He also gave me a slightly outdated book to read about Prostate cancer and the various curative and other options with statistics regarding quality of life consequences. I went to see the consultants and after a discussion on their specialty was told I was a “poster boy (I’m age 70 in excellent health)” for their “cure”. Both were vague and evasive about quality of life issues. I am not trying to bore you, but does this sound familiar? I and my wife were scared to death. I had the big “C”. My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 72 and died from it at age 74.
I read the book my urologist loaned me and the data about quality of life issues really scared me. I attended a prostate support group and listened to men who had classic surgery, robotic surgery, modern photon radiation, cryosurgery and those who were hopeful of being cured by exotic diet and juices, discuss the horrible quality of life issues. One man had horrible life changing rectal problems that required him to be within 30 minutes of a bathroom 24/7. Others had incontinence and impotence of varying degrees ranging from a lot to total. Most men had multiple consequences. All of these men were very discouraged and had little hope of significant improvement.
When I arrived home that evening I was very discouraged and told my wife that I believed that cures exist, but it was a matter of how much quality of life I wanted to gamble and probably lose. Chances of being cured with no adverse consequences are very low for the treatments discussed. I was very discouraged, scared, and did not know what to do. I was discussing this dilemma with a friend who had a friend receiving Proton Radiation at Loma Linda Medical Center in Loma Linda, California, for his prostate cancer. He said he would put me in contact with him. I discouraged him as my urologist and the other consultants I had met with discouraged consideration of proton radiation (no rational reason given). Being raised to believe everything my doctor says as fact, I did not consider proton radiation.
I received an email from the patient who was almost finished with his proton radiation at Loma Linda, who told me about proton radiation and that it has a cure rate for prostate cancer as good as or better than any other method with none to few adverse consequences. I thought this was just too good to be true. Like most men who are doing research about prostate cancer cures and consequences, I had my list of questions to ask doctors. I sent them to my new friend at Loma Linda and again found the answers to be relatively favorable – and hard to believe. He also sent me a copy of Bob Marckini’s book YOU CAN BEAT Prostate Cancer And You Don’t Need Surgery To Do It. I read the book and still found it hard to believe that Proton radiation was the cure with virtually no quality of life consequences. I contacted Bob and he asked what it would take to convince me that it is true. I said I needed to talk to men who have had the treatment and could tell me directly about the experience and their results. He sent me several hundred names and phone numbers to call. I called about 60 men form the list, selected randomly, and found each man to be cured and with virtually NO quality of life Issues. I was convinced. In mid-January – mid March 2010, I received 45 proton radiation treatments at Loma Linda University Medical Center Proton Treatment Center. I have NO quality of Life issues.
On July 15, 2010, I got my first after treatment PSA test. It was 1.7, a 59% reduction. Good Huh! It can take 12 – 18 months after treatment for the PSA value to become negligible. If you want to talk to one who has recently received proton radiation, call me at 310-344-2306. Email: jdfitzgerald@earthlink.net
Since starting proton radiation in January 2010, I have personally talked to over a thousand men about their experience with proton radiation. I have yet to find the man who has experienced significant adverse quality of life consequences resulting from their prostate cancer proton radiation cancer cure. The many wives that I have talked to were also delighted.
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Posted by Jim Tuggey on July 19th, 2010 — Posted in General, Patient Testimonies
Check out: www.protonpals.net
This is a site founded by folks treated at MD Anderson and is modeled after Bob Marckini’s site.
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Posted by Jim Tuggey on July 17th, 2010 — Posted in Patient Testimonies
In July of 2004, I completed my proton treatment at Loma Linda. My experience was so rewarding, I wrote a book about it. In Chapter 27 of “Don’t Fear the Big Dogs,” I told of my last proton treatment:
In the changing room, as I was looking in the mirror, untying the perfectly-tied knot behind my neck that held up the hospital gown, the realization that my treatments were actually over hit me. Tears gushed out uncontrollably.
I was never able to establish the predominant source of those tears. Was it relief that the treatments were finished? Was it the knowledge that, maybe, I had truly been cured of cancer? Or, was it because the whole marvelous journey was almost over? The best I could determine it was a blend of all of those things. In the mirror I saw my own face, tanned by weeks in the California sun, reflecting a mystifying mosaic of sheer relief, genuine joy, and yes…profound sadness at the thought of leaving.
The receptionist, Levita, handed me a plain brown envelope which contained a certificate of completion from the Brotherhood of the Balloon and a beautiful gold lapel pin with the proton logo. I knew it represented an accomplishment I should be proud of and for which I should be grateful.
So, that’s it? First they told me I was sick. Then they treated me as if I were sick. Then they told me I’m not sick anymore. And, I still feel the same as I did before I found out I had cancer. It almost seemed too easy. As I walked down the hallway that would lead me out of the hospital, I contemplated the impact this place has had on so many lives over the years.
Loma Linda Medical Center is a Seventh-day Adventist Health Sciences Institution, and truly lives up to the Mission Statement posted in the radiation center lobby:
“The mission of Loma Linda University Medical Center is to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, to make man whole, in a setting of advancing medical science and to provide a stimulating clinical and research environment for the education of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.”
Thank God for those who work to advance medical research!
Now, six years later, I find that my time at Loma Linda has served me, and others, well. Being cured of cancer seems almost like a bonus. The other rewards include being able to counsel men who are contemplating their new challenge of facing prostate cancer. My confidence in medical professionals also served me well, as this year I spent three and a half months in University of Wisconsin Hospital having a liver transplant. During my time there, I often leaned on my Loma Linda experiences to help me maintain a positive attitude and hold confidence in my surgeons and other caregivers. Phone calls and emails from people at Loma Linda were truly appreciated.
While in the hospital, I continued to talk with men from around the country who called me to discuss treatment for prostate cancer. I was sure to tell them I was in the hospital for something unrelated to my prostate! I didn’t want them to think I’d had a recurrence. The following is from one of several emails I have received from Liangni Liu, who’s been contemplating going for proton treatment. This is dated June 16, 2010. I edited it slightly for length:
Hi Bill,
Yesterday unexpected news came to me that said I was approved. My wife and I were overwhelmed with sheer Joy and deep gratitude. We were suddenly in touch with an “ instinct of truth”~ an immediate awareness of what is right and true, a truth without reflection: God is alive, Magic is afoot.
I can never forget how your info, advice, and encouragement have helped me to cross over those difficulties. Fortune favored me to meet you in my life. Indeed, you are the angel God sent to me.
In order to speed the process, yesterday morning I faxed a personal appeal letter to insurance company, to express how I feel about the importance of Proton; how will it greatly effect my life quality, just speak from my heart. We are expecting to get an affirmative answer next week. Never was I that lucky so soon. I’ve been granted peace of mind.
In the presence of deep appreciation, I have no alternative but to live nobly.
Your friend, Liangni
For me, that’s what it’s all about. Being able to share my Loma Linda experience with other men, helping them assess their treatment choices, and seeing them enjoy the same positive outcome. I’m now working on my next book, as yet untitled, which will focus on the importance of keeping a positive attitude and appreciating the support and prayers received from friends and family during a challenging time.
So, what’s in store next? We never know. For example, last week I had a wisdom tooth pulled, and three days later lost my balance while walking the dog, fell down and cracked a rib. Ouch!
But, guess what?
Being alive to experience all of life’s ups and downs is far better than the alternative.
Bill Vancil
Madison, Wisconsin
Phone: 608-798-2600
Email: billvancil@tds.net
Website: www.dontfearthebigdogs.com
Posted by Jim Tuggey on July 5th, 2010 — Posted in General
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.
Posted by Jim Tuggey on June 1st, 2010 — Posted in Proton Facilities
“Prostate Cancer Meets the Proton Beam” By Fuller Jones. Fuller Jones is a veteran 140 space launches and is a retired NASA engineer. I enjoyed his book and know that you will, especially if you are deciding on a treatment for Prostate cancer.
And then I read “Prostate Cancer Survivors Speak Their Minds” by Arthur L. Burnett II and Norman Morris. Released in 2010, this book features Surgery experiences by Arnold Palmer and other well known men who had surgery for their Prostate cancer. I am happy for them if they are happy however; I am disappointed that the “Sell” is still in place for surgery with the after effects they experience in this book while I am satisfied with “NONE!” with Protons after 10 years and 9 months.
In October 2010 Loma Linda will celebrate the 20 Year Anniversary of their Proton center. They are closing in on 15,000 people treated with protons and they have spent all this time improving the applications to 22 specific body sites and others. Breasts, Lungs, and Liver have been treated since 2007.
One of the three gantries has been recently modified to a robotic arm to place the patient in the treatment zone and research continues to evaluate possible improvement in other Proton treatment techniques.
Can you believe that when I was treated, there were two options for treatment and now the University of Pennsylvania (treating now) and Hampton University are coming on line. They will join MPRI in Indiana, MD. Anderson in Texas, Proton Institute in Jacksonville, Florida and four Procure sites that are open (Oklahoma City) or under construction with groundbreaking in New Jersey as the latest.
These are exciting times when prices in some Proton Centers are already coming down and the future is bright.
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Posted by Jim Tuggey on May 24th, 2010 — Posted in General
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.
