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I told my Dr.recently that I have had a lidocaine shot and 24 needle plugs taken from my prostate when I was diagnosed (2 biopsies). Google says the US alone has spent over 2 trillion on cancer in the last 30 years. I told him since they have been actually "inside" the prostate so many times with a shot needle,and they say it's confined to the gland, I am amazed they can't just inject something in there that would kill the cancer(and not hurt the urethra! Then they wouldn't have to go to all these extreme lengths to try to "hit" the target with radiation, radical surgery, freezing, nuking or whatever.
Seems so simple doesn't it, but we're just not there. I'm headed to Loma Linda this weekend for proton. 1850 miles,$73,000, and Blue Cross of Mississippi insurance denial! Hang in there guys!
The smartest thing I did regarding my prostate cancer was to wait until I was over 65 to be diagnosed with it so as to allow Medicare to pick up the tab. Same deal for a coronary bypass as well as a one-sided orchiectomy.
Hormone deprivation has chemically castrated the other one. :-)
Aloha Sam,
Have you read the latest published reports comparing protons to IMRT?
http://prostatecancerinfolink.net/2012/02/01/first-directly-comparative-data-question-safety-of-pbrt-vs-imrt/
Could very well save you big bucks,
Joe
