Treated 2002 • Posted 2002
“I would tell every one to make every effort to go Loma Linda if you want the best way to treat your cancer.”
In September of 2000 I went to see a urologist about a kidney stone problem. For the first time I was the victim of a DRE and PSA test. The PSA at that time was 4. After being treated for the kidney stone the doctor kept talking about having a biopsy of my prostate gland. I told him “no” but agreed to another PSA which now was 5. At this time because of advice from friends I tried Saw Palmetto. After a few days I quit taking those pills. Again I asked for another PSA test. The doctor agreed, but told me that we were not playing bingo that I needed to have a prostate biopsy. The last PSA came back a 7.
At this time I decided to change urologists, waited several months and then went to see another doctor. When he did the DRE he said that he found the right side was enlarged. So I agreed for him to do a biopsy. This came back positive with a Gleason score of 6. At his suggestion I agreed to take a Lupron injection. I will never forget that date - it was October 15, 2001. This doctor gave me a four month injection of Lupron and started to set up a date in February 2002 to operate and remove the prostate gland. When I asked if there were other ways to treat the prostate he gave me a book that explained three ways or methods of treatment - operate, seed implants or do nothing. I returned his book telling him I had not decided what I wanted to do.
Just about one month later on a Sunday morning I heard a radio advertisement for treating the prostate at Loma Linda University Hospital - something called Proton. I did not write down the phone number because I was driving in a lot of traffic, but I thought that it would be easy for me to remember. Big mistake. I tried many phone numbers and late at night I decided to look up Loma Linda Hospital on the Internet and was then able to research the information about Proton treatment. About December I called asking for more information and started to use the Internet to research other methods of treatment. I found none that appealed to me more than coming to LomaLinda for treatment.
I found that the doctor here in Portland, Oregon took a long time to forward my records to Loma Linda Hospital but I started treatment on March 21, 2002 and finished May 14,2002 (40 treatments). The only side effect that I had from the radiation was some pain in urinating. This stopped after a few days. I found that every one connected to the Proton treatment center were very special people. It’s like having one big happy family. I would tell everyone to make every effort to go Loma Linda if you want the best way to treat your cancer.
Richard D. Whalen - Gresham, Oregon
Email: [email protected]