Treated 2021 · Posted 2021
"I have no regrets. Proton therapy was definitely a terrific decision. The procedure was painless and the staff at CA protons was fantastic. My wife and I are looking forward to a cancer-free future!"
A member of the BOB kindly provided a lot of assistance in helping me and my wife make a treatment decision that was a good fit for us!
I had a blood test in April 2019 that revealed I had a PSA of 2.3. I delayed my annual visit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus, and had a blood test in September that showed my PSA had risen to 5.1. The increase prompted my doctor to recommend I visit a urologist. That visit included a biopsy and I later learned I had prostate cancer. My levels were very low. In fact, my Gleason score was the lowest possible at 3+3.
My urologist pushed hard for surgery as the best treatment option, but my wife and I were skeptical. And, the side effects (impotence and incontinence) were not acceptable at all. Combined with an invasive treatment that would take at least six weeks recovery time ... plus other possible complications ... meant that surgery was our least favored treatment option.
We considered other options such as active surveillance, radiation, seeds, brachytherapy, and others, in addition to proton therapy. We ultimately decided proton therapy was the best fit for us.
We had a consult with Dr. Rossi at California Protons. He was very candid and shared with us that after my MRI, he could argue both sides of whether proton therapy or active surveillance was the best option for me. However, active surveillance was not a fit for my brain as every time I would have a PSA test or biopsy, I'd feel like my head would be in a guillotine wondering if this was the time it would drop and my options would be few. So we opted for proton therapy.
I have no regrets. Proton therapy was definitely a terrific decision. The procedure was painless and the staff at CA protons was fantastic. My wife and I are looking forward to a cancer-free future!
I HIGHLY recommend proton therapy to anyone facing the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
- Dudley Adair