Treated 2010 · Posted 2011

"After being a patient at LLUCC, I gained back my respect for the medical profession."

Back in July of 2010, my urologist said I should have a biopsy done because my PSA had gone up to 13. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I had just had a knee replacement and really didn't want to have to deal with that kind of news.

We have a friend who, several years earlier, had gone to Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) for proton treatment. I believe he had proton and photon treatments done. I wasn't sure if that was where I should go myself, however I knew he was and still is doing well and it had been around 6 or 7 years earlier that he'd had it done.

I called another friend of ours who is a doctor. She gave us the number of a man who also went through proton therapy at LLUMC and thought I should speak with him. My wife and I called him and he recommended that I go to LLUMC. He could not speak highly enough of the place and their treatment. He said there were other places that offered proton treatments, but he felt LLUMC did it the best way with their "Make Man Whole" mission. He also said they were the experts - the first facility to offer proton treatment for prostate cancer - and that they had great support groups.

After contacting LLUMC, they were kind enough to send me Bob Marckini's book, "You Can Beat Prostate Cancer" as well as a DVD including detailed information about proton treatment at LLUMC.

After much prayer, speaking to friends, reading the book and watching the DVD, I decided to go to LLUMC for proton treatment.

My wife and I made the arrangements and arrived in California on October 4th, 2010. Our consultation appointment was the next morning. The hospital helped us find a place to stay by sending information on to different places before we even went out there, and we were able to find a reasonable place to rent.

We met some really nice people in LLUMC's support groups and we are still friends with some of them today. LLUMC staff works at keeping your spirits up.

Before my treatment, my PSA was 13. After my first PSA test four months after treatment, my PSA went down to a 1.7. I just had my second PSA test a week ago and it is now down to 0.8.

I am very glad that I had proton treatment at LLUMC. They make it an "up" experience for patients. The experience was great all the way around.

After being a patient at LLUMC, I gained back my respect for the medical profession. I highly recommend anyone with prostate cancer to get proton therapy.

Update April 2012

As of April 2012, I had another psa test and it was 0.7. I still have had no side effects from my treatment or from the healing my body is going through.

John Kopp
[email protected]
518-293-8146