Another One Chooses Proton Beam Therapy

I received an e-mail yesterday from a woman who had contacted me two weeks ago wondering about proton beam therapy.
She was doing homework for her husband who had been given a surgery date for this week to remove his prostate.
After sharing my experience with "The Beam" and researching on their own, they decided to pursue proton beam therapy at the University of Florida Proton Institute in Jacksonville.
His urologist had not even mentioned proton beam therapy to him and they wondered why that was. I told them that he probably didn't mention it because he doesn't do it and only does surgery for his livelihood.
I figure that if he wants to limit his practice to one option, that is totally up to him, but he has taken an oath to provide the best care to his patients. He can't do that if he doesn't offer all the options that are available to them.

I'm not saying that everyone has to choose proton beam therapy. It has worked for me. I'm just saying that every patient diagnosed with prostate cancer deserves to be told all of their options. Not just the ones that the doctor would benefit from.

Have a good weekend.
Blessings,
Rick

More On Dr. Copeland

In my post yesterday, I mentioned a noted surgeon in Florida who had decided to choose proton beam radiation therapy to treat his prostate cancer.
The following e-mail came later in the day which does explain why he chose it.

"I had a lateral lesion that was Gleason 7. The chance for me to need surgery as well as radiation therapy was quite high so I chose PBRT as the best treatment with the least complication rate when compared to surgery plus radiation."

I guess he figured that because he was going to need radiation after any surgery anyway, why not just go with proton beam radiation therapy and fore go the side effects of surgery.

Smart move, I'd say.

Have a good Thursday.
Blseeings,
Rick

Noted Surgeon Chooses Proton Beam Therapy

I received this communication yesterday and that thought it might be interesting to share with you.

"Dr. Ted Copeland is founder of the University of Florida Surgical
Oncology Program and former Director of the UF Shands Cancer Center.
When he was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few months ago, he knew
his treatment options: surgery, X-ray radiation, seeds or proton therapy.

According to an article in a University of Florida Alumni publication,
Dr. Copeland wanted to make a choice that would give him the "best
possible results." So, he chose to undergo 41 days of treatment at the
UF Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville.

`Cancer patients need the very latest in information and treatment
options when faced with this disease' says Copeland, the Edward R.
Woodward Distinguished Professor of Surgery."

I'm not a professor, but I'm glad that three years ago I chose proton beam therapy.

Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick

Do Your Homework

That was a never ending mantra when I was a kid and we can all identify with it. Our parents and teachers stressing the importance of doing our homework.
Apparently that advice is never ending because even after we reach adulthood, the importance of doing our homework still is a huge factor.

I received an e-mail from a woman in Virginia two weeks ago whose husband had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I average a few of these a week anymore. Women who are doing the homework for their husband or boy friend. Her husband had only received one option from his urologist and that was surgery. Made sense. His urologist is a surgeon. Late 50's and looking at the real possibility of impotence and incontinence issues. She didn't want him to have to go through that and began researching. Somehow she found my blog and began looking into proton therapy and contacted me. I mentioned to her that all I can do is tell her my experience and then it was up to her and her husband to research for themselves.
I received word from her last week that after doing their homework and consulting with the Florida University Proton Center in Jacksonville, that they had decided to choose proton beam therapy to treat her husbands cancer.

I will be very interested to hear what their experience will be. I'll let you know.

Have a good Tuesday.
Blessings,
Rick

Fear Of Needles? Me Too!

I wrote last Wednesday about the report that said more men in their 40's are getting tested.
Well, if a man has a father, uncle or other male relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, they need to be very proactive about getting tested annually.
Since having Rheumatic Fever as a child, and having way too many blood tests, I developed a real fear of needles. I can tolerate them today, but still cringe at the thought of laying my arm out there for someone to stick a needle in it.
If you too have a fear of needles, I totally understand your apprehension to go be tested, but this blood test can keep an eye on your PSA and that is so important.

Kids are starting back to school, so please be careful traveling in your car.
Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick