I opened up a new treatment phase for me I will most likely begin on 11/25/13, and that is Proton Therapy, which is new to me, although I heard of it, I never figured on having it with the very limited treatment locations with only 11 in the U.S. so far. It's expensive to build. like 100-200 million, and treatments I believe are twice as expensive as IMRT, and will soon find out.

This. ProCure, NJ, is the only Proton Therapy Center in the NY/NJ and metropolitan area. It's a joint venture also with top hospitals in NYC like Continium Health Care Centers, MT. Sinai, NYU, NY Presbyterian, and MSKCC, so I guess these hospitas are not building any anytime soon. That's why my hospital has a doctor working there.

My consultation is on 11/25/13, and will have a CT scan this same date, hopefully non contrast due to my kidneys.

Other than that, I would like to learn more about it, and will, and Protons are not really new, about 50 years old, but the technology the past few years has let this new technology take off.

I first read about IMPT appx 7 years ago. I posted about it on this site back then and was excited about it's potential for hard to reach cancers and eventually oral cancer due to the reduced cellular kill zone.

Paul, obviously I'm sorry that you have to undergo further treatment of any kind but please share your knowledge and experiences.

Thanks David. I went to search, and read some of your posts with IMPT, and it was helpful. I think IMPT is just a type of delivery system for Proton Therapy, Varian maybe I just read. I don't think mine is, and may be more propriety with ProCure. I forget their acronym, PPT or something. A few here on OCF had it at the same location, which only opened in spring 2012. The hospitals venture that I mentioned, created their own New York Proton Therapy Group, which just became effective September 2013, so I can see more of these hospitals sending patients there.

There is also information on sciencedaily if you search for 'proton therapy'. It sounds like the targeting is much better.
Maria

Thank you Maria. I like sciencedaily.

Keep posting your experiences with PT as it is so new. Might give others more options for advanced cases. As long as the healthcare system does not completely buckle under the massive obese costs. It will be more than interesting to see how such high end cutting new tech becomes available to more than the fortunate few.

Your timing is perfect. There is a very detailed explanation on proton therapy in today's medical news today website.

Seems like Medicare is pushing this new, and expensive technology, and is approved, and being used often for prostrate cancer. I'll have to check that out Tom. Thanks.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/268629.php

I added the Proton Therapy locations to another post, but I figured to add it here also. I read with only the current treatment centers, only 6,000 patients a year can be treated, so there is a selection basis.

http://www.proton-therapy.org/map.htm

Thanks for the link. Surprising to learn Loma Linda center has been open for 20+ years. It seems new but maybe the limited operational centers make it just seem that way.