This was a great, comprehensive, easy to understand discussion about the prostate and its function! I have been missing mine for 14 years and it was a pleasant, yet wistful trip down memory lane. I should have asked for mine in a jar so I could look at it now and again to remind me of better times.
This is a very helpful and informative post. I intend to forward it along to some friends who have become PCa fellow warriors. I’m sitting in my lodging in Philadelphia a few days into what looks to be thirty-seven sessions of proton beam treatments (PBT) following biochemical recurrence (BCR) after three years post radical prostatectomy (RP) during which time I watched my quarterly PSA test results rise from undetectable to .21 thus beginning BCR. Now, I’m into radiation treatment (RT) of my prostate bed and lymph nodes using PBT at the Roberts PB Center at the University of PA. It is an amazing facility and is reported to be the largest PBT facility in the USA doing treatments five days each week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM = 300 procedures each week. Very impressive if you need BCR RT! Take care JPD
Thank you for your comments, JP, and for spreading the word about the blog.
I've heard proton-beam machines are expensive -- to recoup the cost they'd run machines 24 hours, but too few people want 3 AM appointments.
Proton-beam machines are interesting from a illustrative standpoint. Nobody disputes that they're capable of more precision -- but that's not the end of the discussion; the question is whether the precision leads to better outcomes in a head-to-head test, and this remains controversial.
I'm sorry to hear about your recurrence! I assume the sessions are over now and I hope you're doing well.
I find it extremely interesting and perplexing yet understandable that proton beam radiation remains questionable among men seeking treatment for PCa. Almost every week for the past two months, I’ve had discussions about this issue with my PB radiologist Dr. Neha Vapiwala at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at UPenn.
This past week she and I discussed the conflict of interest that clearly exists between the urologists and the radiologists whose employers at (COE) and large regional and teaching hospital possess if their parent institutions do not offer proton beam radiology treatments as one of their treatment options and then those physicians disparage proton beam treatments in comparison to the other treatments that are offered at their institutions.
Dr. Vapiwala pointed out to me that at UPenn she offers all forms of radiation treatments. They treat PCa with all forms of radiation for primary treatments and following BCR. If PBT is better for a patient than IMRT or SMRT or any other form of radiation, they offer that treatment. Unlike many of the physicians who disparage PBT with dated and unproven questions about the viability of PBT for PCa, she is not conflicted, but clearly those disparaging physicians possess a conflict of interest and transparency.
At UPenn when it comes to the cost of PBT versus other forms of radiation treatment, it is a non-starter. UPenn charges the same amount for all forms of radiation treatments including PBT. When I was searching around for PBT for my own BCR, I wanted to find a PBT RO who had done as many treatment to men following their BCR as possible. I asked the patient scheduling office for that information. Dr. Vapiwala turned out to be that doctor.
What I’ve told anybody who asks me about PBT to do themselves a favor and get a consultation with a radiologist oncologist who can offer you all forms of radiation treatments for your PCa at their parent institution. If thé RO cannot offer this opinion, you will not receive an honest unbiased opinion.
Why is this occurring? We all know the underlying reason. Competition for patients and the money their disease keeps flowing into their parent organizations. Sad, but too true.
Ben,
This was a great, comprehensive, easy to understand discussion about the prostate and its function! I have been missing mine for 14 years and it was a pleasant, yet wistful trip down memory lane. I should have asked for mine in a jar so I could look at it now and again to remind me of better times.
Richard
Hi Ben,
This is a very helpful and informative post. I intend to forward it along to some friends who have become PCa fellow warriors. I’m sitting in my lodging in Philadelphia a few days into what looks to be thirty-seven sessions of proton beam treatments (PBT) following biochemical recurrence (BCR) after three years post radical prostatectomy (RP) during which time I watched my quarterly PSA test results rise from undetectable to .21 thus beginning BCR. Now, I’m into radiation treatment (RT) of my prostate bed and lymph nodes using PBT at the Roberts PB Center at the University of PA. It is an amazing facility and is reported to be the largest PBT facility in the USA doing treatments five days each week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM = 300 procedures each week. Very impressive if you need BCR RT! Take care JPD
Thank you for your comments, JP, and for spreading the word about the blog.
I've heard proton-beam machines are expensive -- to recoup the cost they'd run machines 24 hours, but too few people want 3 AM appointments.
Proton-beam machines are interesting from a illustrative standpoint. Nobody disputes that they're capable of more precision -- but that's not the end of the discussion; the question is whether the precision leads to better outcomes in a head-to-head test, and this remains controversial.
I'm sorry to hear about your recurrence! I assume the sessions are over now and I hope you're doing well.
Hi Ben,
I find it extremely interesting and perplexing yet understandable that proton beam radiation remains questionable among men seeking treatment for PCa. Almost every week for the past two months, I’ve had discussions about this issue with my PB radiologist Dr. Neha Vapiwala at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at UPenn.
This past week she and I discussed the conflict of interest that clearly exists between the urologists and the radiologists whose employers at (COE) and large regional and teaching hospital possess if their parent institutions do not offer proton beam radiology treatments as one of their treatment options and then those physicians disparage proton beam treatments in comparison to the other treatments that are offered at their institutions.
Dr. Vapiwala pointed out to me that at UPenn she offers all forms of radiation treatments. They treat PCa with all forms of radiation for primary treatments and following BCR. If PBT is better for a patient than IMRT or SMRT or any other form of radiation, they offer that treatment. Unlike many of the physicians who disparage PBT with dated and unproven questions about the viability of PBT for PCa, she is not conflicted, but clearly those disparaging physicians possess a conflict of interest and transparency.
At UPenn when it comes to the cost of PBT versus other forms of radiation treatment, it is a non-starter. UPenn charges the same amount for all forms of radiation treatments including PBT. When I was searching around for PBT for my own BCR, I wanted to find a PBT RO who had done as many treatment to men following their BCR as possible. I asked the patient scheduling office for that information. Dr. Vapiwala turned out to be that doctor.
What I’ve told anybody who asks me about PBT to do themselves a favor and get a consultation with a radiologist oncologist who can offer you all forms of radiation treatments for your PCa at their parent institution. If thé RO cannot offer this opinion, you will not receive an honest unbiased opinion.
Why is this occurring? We all know the underlying reason. Competition for patients and the money their disease keeps flowing into their parent organizations. Sad, but too true.