Sharing very good news!! 16 years cancer free from proton therapy!

I wanted to share some wonderful news: my latest lab results today (June 6, 2024) show no change after 16 years following my prostate cancer treatment with proton therapy in 2008 at Loma Linda University Medical Center. This means my cancer remains in complete remission. I'm proud to be an advocate for proton therapy, which has allowed me to lead a normal life with minimal side effects. How great is that! I understand that not everyone has this outcome, and my thoughts are with those individuals. Here are three photos: one from May 2008, almost finishing up 42 proton sessions over three months; a recent snorkeling trip; and my best supporter, my loving spouse Tracy Smith Poling, who has been by my side through all these years. Life is good!

14 Years Cancer Free contributed to Proton Beam Therapy Treatment!

 16 Years Cancer Free!

Me Today May 2022

 My latest PSA results last month hold a nadir of .8.   No change since my forty-two (42) sessions over 3
month period of external-beam proton radiation therapy in 2008 (almost 14 years ago today).  My reflection today is that several decades ago the chance of a cancer survivor enjoying long-term survival was limited. Not all celebrate so many years of cancer free duration and I am sensitive to that.  For me, and others its a "transitional cancer survivorship" reflecting the transition from active treatment to careful observation and the emotional, social, and medical adaptations that occur.  Selecting proton therapy was a hard choice in 2007-2008 since there was only three centers operational.  The support of my spouse Tracy made it happen as I was away for many months.  Today there are so many here in the US and internationally.   I appreciate the fact that I can grow older (was 53 when diagnosed and now 67).  Milestones can trigger a range of emotions, from gratitude and relief to pain and sadness to fear of cancer recurrence, even after years have passed. One of the best ways to recognize milestones and emotions is to take ownership of them. Choose how you want to reflect on the changes in your life.  For me as I stated in 2007 "November 1 2007 my life changed with diagnoses of prostate cancer at the age of 53. Life’s clock starts to tick at a different pace. It was time to wake up and really live. The cancer odyssey never stops but it does change priorities and brings new dreams. What was important before seems foolish now." The journey continues!

One of my 42 treatment sessions at Loma Linda 2008.

My daily entry to treatment in 2008

Loma Linda a sanctuary of healing

12 Years & Counting Cancer Free

 

Yes correct:  Celebration.  Today I received my latest PSA results.  0.8.  Cancer Free 12 years, 10 months & 5 days since my last proton therapy session at Loma Linda Medical Center in California.  Its been a blessing to continue to experience life.  Thank all my supporting staff at Loma Linda especially Dr. Jabola.   I have had no side effects and have been able to see the world and take on new projects including my travels and counseling cancer patients at the National Cancer Center in Seoul Korea. 

When it comes to navigating life during and after cancer, it is important to recognize that no two stories are the same. “Every cancer journey is (that person’s) own book to write,” We have to be grateful for the good things we have.” Not all journeys end the same but adding the element of hope of adding more meaningful days, mentoring others even in one life is a positive influence in our world.  

If you have been recently diagnosed with or a family or friend impacted from this news their is a  emotional side effect of cancer is rarely discussed, leaving those who are affected inadequately prepared to deal with the complex emotions. Cancer survivors often experience ongoing fear of recurrence. Follow-up medical visits, unexplained pain, or even sights and sounds they associate with treatment can trigger bouts of anxiety and fear that are as debilitating as those that occurred during cancer treatment. There is a good resource to read here at Harvard Medical School "The Mental and Emotional Challenges of Surviving Cancer" 

Facing forward the diagnosis of cancer for me was a gift.  My faith and support of wife Tracy and all family's and friends have made for a good ride.  I expect to "Keep on Trucking"    Grateful.  Curtis

10 Years Prostate Cancer Free after Proton Beam Therapy!!!

Expressing good news makes this even more delightful. New results of recent PSA tests show that proton therapy continuing its good results.  PSA is .7!  Basically no change. Hurrah!    I ended my sessions of proton therapy over 10 years and 6 months ago.  No side effects and great blood panel results recently.  

On proton therapy: There is a significant difference between standard (x-ray) radiation treatment and proton therapy. If given in sufficient doses, x-ray radiation techniques will control many cancers. But, because of the physician's inability to adequately conform the irradiation pattern to the cancer, healthy tissues may receive a similar dose and can be damaged. Consequently, a less- than-desired dose is frequently used to reduce damage to healthy tissues and avoid unwanted side effects. The power of protons is that higher doses of radiation can be used to control and manage cancer while significantly reducing damage to healthy tissue and vital organs. read more here http://www.proton-therapy.org/howit.htm

  If you are recently diagnose with prostate cancer feel free to drop me a note.   curtispoling@gmail.com

What’s ten years’ worth?

What’s ten years’ worth?  10 years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer! I was lucky having checked my PSA test back then and catching the cancer early. I was able to do something about it. A recent test last month showed my cancer in complete remission (.58 PSA) 10 years later. This after receiving 45 sessions of proton radiation at Loma Linda. Advice! Get checked for PSA (Men), Mammograms, Colonoscopy and see a dermatologist for any anomalies. What’s ten years’ worth? 3650 days of beautiful life with support from friends and new friends, family, children and my lovely wife. Get checked folks! Good health to you all!

PROTON THERAPY VS. IMRT

The results showed that men who were treated with proton therapy for prostate cancer had the same urinary and rectal quality of life scores as men who didn't even have prostate cancer.

Don't let anyone rush you into making a decision that will have consequences for the rest of your life.

FOR PROTON TREATMENT

Fatigue is minimal or non-existent. (I treated an avid cyclist a few years back who rode his bicycle over a thousand miles during the nine weeks he was receiving treatment).

Rectal symptoms are almost unheard of (since such a small volume of the rectum is receiving radiation - basically just the part immediately adjacent to the prostate). Urinary irritative symptoms may occur over the same time course as they do with X-ray treatment, although they are generally less severe than with X-rays.

Multiple epidemiologic studies have shown that there is only a minimal increase in the risk of radiation induced cancers with protons as opposed to x-rays - likely due to the much smaller volume of tissue receiving any radiation dose. The few side effects men do have, usually resolve within a few weeks after proton irradiation is over. 

WHAT ABOUT THE DATA ON THE RELATIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF PROTON THERAPY VS. IMRT?

We pooled our data with various cancer centers in order to study about 1,000 patients who had been treated for prostate cancer with Proton Beam Therapy and compared their Quality of Life scores (in the domains of urinary and bowel function) with those of a control group of men who had no treatment (because they didn't have prostate cancer).

The EPIC questionnaire was completed by all men every three months from the beginning of treatment until at least one year after treatment. 

http://www.medicaldaily.com/prostate-cancer-treatment-vs-removal-surgery-side-effects-and-prognosis-each-404675

A night at Prostate Club, where men bond over balloons and ‘extra time’

The title of above comes from an article in Seattle Times dated September 9, 2016. The story captures the anxiety of first days of proton treatment for prostate cancer and its journey as it was also mine. The story parallels those many times before that face these anxious times.  

 As it quotes: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with more than 180,000 new cases and 26,000 deaths per year, according to the American Cancer Society. Six in 10 cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 and over. “When you first talk to them, they’re at wits end and dying to get some answers,” “They don’t know who else to talk to.

Here is the article.  http://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/a-night-at-prostate-club-where-men-bond-over-balloons-and-extra-time/