YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Bill Perrill and Joyce live in Illinois, USA . He was 58 when he was diagnosed on August 12, 2006. His initial PSA was 5.1 ng/ml his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Proton Beam Radiation. Here is his story:

United Health Care is insurance. My PSA went from 2.74 ng/ml to 5.1 ng/ml in 15 months. My uro went through the list of options and may have even mentioned protons but recommended seeds.

Since I live near Chicago Prostate Cancer Center in Westmont, IL, I went there for my first support group meeting. This clinic does seeds. Does them very well. Thousands from all over the world. I also attended three US TOO support groups in the Chicago area. It appeared to me that 50% had seeds (Brachytherapy) and about 30% had surgery and the rest X-Ray (photon) radiation. None did protons. A book called 100 questions about Prostate Cancer didn't even mention proton beam radiation.

I scanned the front and back on my UHC insurance card and 9 pages of diagnostic information. I then e-mailed these document to eight places. Three that did Cyber Knife, two that did proton beam, and two that did da Vinci robotic surgery.

It is all about the side effects. There is no need to do surgery at my stage. Too many side effects. Same with X-Rays. I was almost ready to do Cyber Knife in Naple Community Hospital when the Loma Linda nurse called and said " Cyber Knife is still X-Rays - it goes all the way through you". Loma Linda has 15 years experience in protons. 30% of the worlds proton patients went there. UHC has a contract with them as well.

I just finished treatment 22 of 44 yesterday. No side effects yet.

 

UPDATED

February 2007

 

I graduated from Loma Linda protons (gantry 3) 30 days ago. 44 treatments later I felt fine. Minor rectal bleeding that suppositories relieved. I can't believe how there were no side effects. It's the Bragg Peak. Protons hit the target and nothing else. X-Rays hit too much.

 

UPDATED

January 2008

 

It's been 11 months since my last treament at Loma Linda. My PSA is 0.6 and still doing great. Illinois has 3 proton sites planned for sometime in the next 5 years.

As a Vietnam vet, prostate cancer is considered Agent Orange related. The VA gave me a nice tax free disability check. I told 2 other vets and they applied as well. This applies to anyone who served from 1962 to 1975. The VA considers Agent Orange to be presumptively connected.

 

UPDATED

February 2008

 

Still no side effects except some rectal bleeding, as if I had hemorroids. Proton radiation is by far the best treatment choice. I have had others who told me they wish they had done more research rather than surgery. I went to Loma Linda, proton capital of the world.They are getting ready to open two proton centers in Illinois next year, 10 miles apart. Batavia area next to Fermi Lab. NIU and a private corp.

UPDATED

November 2009

 

 

My Loma Linda visit almost 3 years ago for Proton Radiation remains the best decision I ever made. PSA is 0.40.

I did have one minor side effect - some rectal bleeding that occurred two years later. A colonoscopy showed radiation proctitis (burns). The doctor fused them during the colonoscopy (laser??).

So far, so good. This was the only side effect.

Bill's e-mail address is: bperrill1244@yahoo.com