BOB members who have completed Proton treatment documented the story of their diagnosis, their search for the best prostate cancer treatment option, and their experience of Proton Therapy at LLUMC - all for the benefit of others who are considering Proton
Treatment. As of January 2007, we have 125 members' stories posted. These include three written by men who chose proton therapy for salvage prostate cancer treatment when cancer returned following radical prostatectomy. They are David Leighton, Charlie Rubin and Bob Young.
Warren Johns - Brookeville, Maryland (Originally posted in 2001, update comments added March 2008)
“Fifteen years have passed since exposure to the penetrating power of the proton and the superb medical skills of Dr. Rossi and the 'beam team.'”
Robert Hillis, M.D. - Niceville Florida (Posted 12/1/05, update comments added April 2008)
Dr. Hillis is a surgeon. When diagnosed with prostate cancer, he did his homework and chose proton therapy. On September 19, 2005, The Florida Daily News did a feature story on his diagnosis and treatment at Loma Linda.
Harold Rabin - Northbrook, Illinois (Originally posted in 2004, update comments added May 2006 and June 2008)
Treated with Proton therapy in early 1991, Harold Rabin has been cancer free for 13 years, and with no long term side effects.
Dean Naylor - Butte, Montana (Posted 2002, update comments added June 2008)
"LLUMC and proton therapy is, in my opinion, the finest, most thorough and comfortable/convenient treatment available for prostate cancer treatment/cure".
Bob Reimer - Arnold, California (Originally Posted 11/02; updated 7/08)
"The doctor started off the conversation with “You have cancer and have one to three years to live (PSA 61 Gleason 10). Go home and get your house in order!”"
John P. Ebin - Longboat Key, Florida (posted 12/19/02)
"A quick call to Joe. 'Hi, John. How are you?' 'Not so good, Joe. A little case of PCa!' 'No big deal!' says Joe. "
Roy Butler - Northfield, Vermont (posted 1/27/03)
". . . my colleagues back in Vermont want to know if they can send me flowers or fruit, I tell them a new Big Bertha would be nice. "
Terry Wepsic M.D. - Huntington Beach, California (posted 3/27/03)
Dr. Terry Wepsic is a physician,/pathologist with a specialty in cancer biology and tumor immunology. When a cancer researcher chooses Proton Therapy to treat his prostate cancer, it speaks volumes about the efficacy of this treatment option.
David Leighton - Foresthill, California (posted 3/23/03)
When David Leighton’s radical prostatectomy failed, he chose Proton treatment to go after the cancer cells the surgery had missed. That was 5 years ago. Today things are looking great! Following David’s brief testimonial, he relates an inspirational story about his brave friend, “TC.”
Jimmie Mitchell - Nokesville, Virginia (posted 4/8/04)
Treated 10 years ago, Jimmie had a PSA of 101.6 plus other complications. But the story has a happy ending.
Jack Richardson - Grand Junction, CO (Posted 6/22/06)
"I have never had any side affects, unless feeling great is a side affect."
Leigh Miller - Ft. Thomas, Kentucky (posted 1/14/06)
“In recent years I had witnessed three friends who had undergone surgical procedures, two of whom were in diapers and impotent. It occurred to me that there might be something worse than dying.”
Dr. Bernard Hindman – Cambria, CA (posted 1/07)
We ran a Featured Member Story on Dr. Bernard Hindman in our BOB Tales Newsletter, and with Dr. Hindman’s permission, it is now a testimonial. Dr. Hindman is a man of considerable intellect and accomplishment. His story and his rationale
for choosing proton therapy should be of great value to recently diagnosed men.
Steven Hodgdon Hatley, WI (Posted 6/06)
Like many of our members, Steve’s initial treatment for prostate cancer was surgery. When his cancer returned, he chose proton therapy for salvage treatment.
Herbert Klein, M.D. - Pittsburgh, PA (posted 6/06)
Dr. Klein is a nuclear medicine physician, biochemist and medical researcher. He chose proton therapy after much research and “based on the elegant physics of protons.”
Ron Worthington (Retired Col. U.S. Air Force) - Phoenix, Arizona (Posted 12/12/05)
A former proton patient, who is a retired surgeon recommended proton treatment to Ron.
Thom Chase - Fort Lee, New Jersey (posted 2/23/04)
This is a story written by Thom Chase’s wife, Jeannie. Prostate cancer is a couple’s disease, and Jeannie does a terrific job sharing the experience of diagnosis and Proton treatment from the perspective of the patient’s wife.
Norton Elder - Waynesville, North Carolina
"What a way to be cured of cancer!"
Edward Holland - Simi Valley, California
"My younger brother had prostate surgery followed by radiation, so I was well aware of all the unpleasant side effects he endured and is still dealing with."
Colonel Retired Howard J. "Jim" Tuggey - Trophy Club, Texas
"As long as I live, I will do everything I can to spread the word about "proton" treatment."
Arnd Hallmeyer M.D. - Berlin, Germany
"PSA 420 - good heavens!"
Terry Scott - El Paso, Texas (Posted 6/06)
Terry had PSA 55, Gleason 9. Today his PSA is non-detectable.
Paul Gustafson, PhD - Martinez, GA (Posted 5/2/08)
“When I went to Loma Linda I thought I was going out there to be cured of prostate cancer. After I had been there for a few weeks I found that I was there to receive so much more.”
Bill Vancil - Madison, Wisconsin (posted 7/25/05)
"The doctor told me, 'Your PSA is 7.15...your Gleason score is 8. I recommend surgery; that's the gold standard.' I wanted to find out what alternatives existed."
Lee Cantwell - Smithfield, Utah (posted 7/26/05)
“I went to the website and began reading the testimonials. These were not brief statements, but pages long descriptions of people’s experiences at Loma Linda and heartfelt expressions of their gratitude for having discovered a treatment that allowed them to be
treated successfully without destroying the quality of their lives.”
Judge William M. Auslen - Carlsbad, California (posted 8/5/04)
Judge Auslen was treated in 1997. His PSA, 7 years after treatment remains at 0.1. The Judge has the distinction of being the 1,000th BOB member.
Homer Lamborn - Redding, California (posted 6/16/03)
"It has now been 7 years since my treatment. My PSA has remained at the 0.3 level and I feel just fine. "
Jerry Klein - Issaquah, Washington (Posted 12/30/03)
The following was written by a former patient in response to a prospective patient’s request for information about Proton therapy. The individual specifically asked for feedback on any side effects experienced.
Alex Plummer - Simi Valley, California (posted 12/17/02)
"African-Americans, such as Plummer, are 60 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasians."
Aaron Leno - College Place, Washington (originally posted 4/14/03 - updated 12/1/04))
"It’s been 9 years since Proton treatment; my PSA is 0.23; I have no problems urinating and no side effects; the treatment did not render me either impotent or incontinent."
Don Lake - Cherry Valley, CA (posted 5/26/03)
Don Lake received Proton treatment 12 years ago. Today he feels great; he says he hasn’t experienced any side effects, and at age 81, plays golf several times a week.
Don Naples - New Britain, Connecticut (posted 6/2/04)
"My prostate cancer treatment at Loma Linda University Medical Center was one of the most uplifting periods of my life."
Harvey Olson - Idaho Falls, Idaho
"Bottom line: If I had it to do over I would choose the combination proton/photon treatment in an instant, hands down, over any other option."
Ed Solomon - Huntington Beach, California (Posted 9/14/03)
"My current PSA is <0. 1 and has been at that approximate level since completion of treatment almost 7 years ago."
John Watson - Wildwood, Texas
"Every patient I've talked with made the same statement 'they (Loma Linda University Proton Center) saved my life.'"
George A. Rutan, DDS - Palmdale, California (posted 10/11/03)
Treated over 7 years ago, Dr. Rutan had a PSA of 29. Today his PSA is 0.06 and he feels terrific.
Gene Woltor - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
"To me, this information was a blessing and a life-saving message from God."
Dennis Hollars - San Jose, California
"Protons are heavy, penetrate without scattering, and dump nearly their entire dose in a small volume of tissue (like the prostate), with almost no collateral damage. You really don’t need to understand anything other than this."
Doug Ayer - Greenwich, Connecticut
"I went into high gear learning all I could about options and outcomes. This involved talking to friends and their friends; reading all the books and articles; researching on the web; and visiting Memorial Sloan Kettering, Massachusetts General, Johns Hopkins and Columbia Presbyterian."
Sam Hastings - Silver Spring, Maryland (posted 6/21/04)
This is an article written by Sam for a Newsletter and for his local Newspaper. It is entitled, “Sharing My Good Fortune.”
Bill Hansell - Athena, Oregon
"Two years later my PSA is 0.4, the size and texture of my prostate is normal, and the roughness is gone ."
Dale Wilcox - Carpinteria, California (Posted 9/22/03)
"July of this year marks the 10th anniversary of the success for me. This year I also celebrated my 71st birthday and am pleased to report--no side affects, all systems functioning properly with peace of mind and thanks to God . ."
Bob Wickes - Fountain Hills, Arizona
"Could I have been led there by God? I think so and thank God I was a chosen one."
Roger Browne - Colorado Springs, Colorado
"If I had known of it before surgery, I would have opted for that (Proton) completely."
Jack Fancher - Carlsbad, California (posted 6/4/03)
"The main reasons I chose Proton? It is non-invasive, has fewer side effects, if any, and my treatment would be done as an outpatient."
John and Norma Zimmermann - Pahoa, Hawaii
"You are a difficult patient, I don't want to see you again -- don't make another appointment."
Edward Souder - Minneapolis, Minnesota
"One can never be as " low" as when the oncologist says-'Youve got CANCER'"
Donald Gothard - Washington, Michigan
"I pray that God will guide you in your treatment selection. I know He helped me."
Woody Hansell - Hermiston, Oregon
"My Urologist is convinced I will be revisiting PCa in ten to fifteen years. So why Proton?"
Wilmer Brauer - Sidney, Nebraska
"Every night I was searching for some answer better then the ones I had."
John Ginella - Reno, Nevada
" . . we booked another boat out of Venice to Rome and there I 'accidentally' ran into a past patient of LLUMC, who advised me to do nothing until I had an interview with Dr. Rossi."
James Bowling - Maryland Heights, Missouri
"I give proton treatment five (*****) stars."
Cal Jones - Redlands, California
A comprehensive analysis of Proton Treatment for prostate cancer from one patient's perspective
Carl Anthony - Apple Valley, CA
"The only side effect has been tiredness when I overdue it."
Fernand Beaupre - Caribou, Maine
" . . don't let your body take a beating if you don't have too."
Charlie Einsiedler - Warwick, Rhode Island
Prostate cancer diagnosis at age 87, PSA 29 and rising rapidly, what do you do? Watchful Waiting? Not Charlie Einsiedler. Now in his 93rd year, Charlie is doing just fine, enjoying life and playing golf, six years after Proton therapy.
Charles Bingham - Veyo, Utah
"I wholeheartedly recommend this treatment for everyone."
Ron DePoule - Yuma, Arizona
"I decided to go back to the urologist in Yuma and he told me, if you were my Dad . . . I would send you to Loma Linda."
Charlie Rubin - Tucson, Arizona
"The Proton Beam did what Surgery couldn't do."
Brian Butchko - Carlsbad, California
"I was rather stunned by the enormity of the word 'cancer', but felt a certain calmness brought about by a sense that it was very treatable and that this was all part of 'God's Plan' for my life."
Douglas Brane – Dunnellon, Florida
"I’ve had no side effects whatsoever, and actually feel better physically and mentally than ever."
Warren Grymes - Jacksonville, Florida
"At my age he would not suggest a radical. As he put it, 'I wouldn’t want to put you through that kind of pain'."
Bob Schmucker - Warner Robbins, Georgia
Loma Linda and Proton Treatment - a great place to spend your . . . honeymoon?
Dick Holmes - Minnetonka, Minnesota
"...I was sick and you looked after me..."
Howard Seeley, M.D.- College Place, Washington
"When all factors and parameters are taken into account it (Proton treatment) is the preferred way to go."
John Giangardella - San Clemente, California
"No other option has this kind of success with treatment and quality of life."
Bob Young - Oregon House, California
"If any man just diagnosed with prostate cancer and facing the totally bewildering array of treatment options reads this, take seriously not only my testimony but equally those of the many hundreds of other healthy survivors who placed their trust (and their lives) in protons and prayer."
Jim Branson - Fort Worth, Texas
"So, on my final day of treatment, I left LLUMC, drove 1,345 miles in 22 hours and arrived home on my 75th birthday with energy to spare!"
Ted Rowden - Mansfield, Texas
" . . I canceled my surgery and essentially left the urologist/surgeon standing with scalpel in hand."
Jim Grosskopf - Napa, California
" This is an article I wrote, and one that was published twice in radiology trade magazines. The message was personal, yet I hope educational for readers and an attempt to get men to be checked and women to encourage those checks."
Ron Yedloutschnig - Southold, New York
Ron tells his story in response to a recently diagnosed patient’s inquiry about Proton treatment at Loma Linda.
Pastor Leon Cornforth - Caldwell, Idaho
"I had 37 proton treatments in early 1993 without any pain, loss of hair, nausea or loss of my manhood. I have never had any pain and all of my plumbing is normal."
Jim Bothe - Keene, Texas
". . I had absolutely no side effects whatsoever, except a little "sunburn" on both hips, which I was told to expect. Physically I can do everything after Proton that I could do before."
Bill Deel - Charleston, West Virginia
"For the first time in my life, I found a medical facility where people were treated like human beings instead of walking diseases."
Bob Healey - Sun City West, Arizona
"The statistic that caught my eye was that 1% of all RP patients don't get off the table alive. So, I was fairly certain that I didn't want surgery . . ."
Wilmer and Marjorie Eicher -Helena, Montana
"As far as we are concerned Loma Linda is the only place to go for prostate cancer treatment. Wilmer’s most recent PSA is 0.76, he has had no side effects and all is well so far."
Sid Shanks - Camargo, Illinois
"I completed Proton treatment in June of 2000. My current PSA is 0.3 and I have experienced no side effects from treatment."
Ron LaBerge - Yorba Linda, California - (posted 11/22/02)
". . . life goes on and what a thrill it is to be a part of it"
Dennis Franks - Canyon Lake, California - (posted 11/22/02)
"I had my last Proton treatment Feb.21, 2002 and haven't stopped smiling since."
Halvard Thomsen - Clinton, Massachusetts (posted 11/23/02)
"In my opinion, it would be a mistake for anyone seeking treatment for prostate cancer to neglect to look seriously at Loma Linda as one of the top options! "
Richard King - Lancaster, California (posted 11/23/02)
"If you have prostate cancer, you are doing yourself a GREAT disservice if you don't check with Loma Linda University Medical Center. They are the best!!!!!!!! "
Jim Henry - Upland, California (posted 11/24/02)
"By now, the quality of life issues were paramount in my thought process."
Clifford Lampe - Lakeport, California (posted 11/25/02)
"This time my PSA was 11.5 and my Gleason was 10! "
John Geubtner - Gig Harbor, Washington (posted 12/1/02)
This is one patient’s account of his first day of Proton treatment.
Jennings Raff - Citrus Heights, California (posted 12/5/02)
"Loma Linda's goal is "To Make Man Whole" in all respects. I felt emotional peace in their hands and that peace continues!!! "
Doyle Rogers - Hanford, California (posted 12/5/02)
"I started this treatment undecided if it was right, knowing that with His guidance it would be."
Richard D. Whalen - Gresham, Oregon (posted 12/7/02)
"I would tell every one to make every effort to go Loma Linda if you want the best way to treat your cancer."
Robert Reed - Carlsbad, California (posted 12/9/02)
"Many aspects of this whole story have convinced me that there was Divine intervention. No one is this lucky!"
John Schmidt - Silver Spring, Maryland (posted 12/12/02)
"I would encourage you to go to LLUMC and relax. They may tell you to take good care of your heart and they will take care of your prostate. "
Bob Powell - Claremont, California (posted 12/14/02)
"The big deciding factor for me was a much better quality of life outcome for treatment by Protons at Loma Linda. "
Eldon Palasek - Fullerton, Nebraska (posted 12/28/02)
"From my very first call to Loma Linda I have been very pleased with the information and help I received. From finding housing to all aspects of the treatment, everything was very positive. "
Thomas Norman - Richardson, Texas (posted 12/29/02)
"By then my psa was 23 and prostate size up to 142gm. (We claim everything is bigger in Texas, but I felt this was a bit extreme). "
Winston Zappe - Staples, Minnesota (posted 12/29/02)
"I'm now 81 years old and thanks to Loma Linda I plan to pull a few more years! I have a sister who is 94! One thing I know for sure - I won't die from or with prostate cancer! "
Harland Hughes - Renton, Washington (posted 12/29/02)
"I was so excited to phone my urologist, to cancel my surgery date . . . . "
Wayne Swartz, Uniontown, Pennsylvania (posted 1/9/03)
"I was blessed with the best prostate cancer cure in the world. "
Dean (“Lyle”) Hanan - Enumclaw, Washington (posted 1/13/03)
"When I went in for my "cardiac" appointment with my cardiologist, he was very pleased about my receiving Proton treatment - said that of all radiation, it was the very easiest on the heart. That should encourage some of you. "
Ray Arnold - Annapolis, Maryland (posted 1/15/03)
"Of course the surgeon and radiologist in Annapolis and Georgetown U. in Wash. D.C. were both convinced they could cure my cancer - and they probably could - but at what cost in side effects??? "
Kenneth Paul - Albuquerque, New Mexico (posted 1/17/03)
"I feel this growth. However, I don’t think it is on your prostate. We’ll just continue to watch it for awhile.” My primary care physician (PCP) "
Bill Paukert - Boulder, Colorado (posted 1/20/03)
"The treatments were so easy one feels guilty fighting cancer with no more effort than that. "
Fred Agnir - Greenfield, Massachusetts (posted 12/28/03)
"Loma Linda has changed me from a cancer victim to a cancer survivor, from a person filled with fear of death to a person joyfully celebrating life - past, present and future . . . "
Karl Herrmann - Seattle, Washington (posted 2/5/03)
"The most important sentence in this letter was: “ WITH RELATIVELY FEW SIDE EFFECTS.” We made the decision to go to Loma Linda. "
William Jackson - Reston, Virginia (posted 2/6/03)
"I appreciate the opportunity to share my story in hopes that it will benefit others. "
Dan M. Eicher - Waterloo, Iowa (posted 2/13/03)
"Now, it has been 3 years since the final treatment. I still feel great and I am thankful for it. My recent check showed my PSA at 0.2. I guess you can't get much better than that. "
Don Butler - Yuba City, California (posted 2/17/03)
"I feel like my guardian angel has been looking after me during the whole procedure. "
Virgil Schulenberg - Eugene, Oregon (posted 2/25/03)
"I know God was instrumental in my being one of the lucky ones chosen to go to Loma Linda and He is leading me to talk on behalf of LLUMC . . . . "
Ron Parker - Pollock Pines, California (posted 2/26/03)
"I was accepted (at LLUMC) and started treatment on Feb 14. It was without a doubt, the best Valentine I had ever received. "
Derrell M. Hosea - Quitman, Texas (posted 3/22/02)
"I thank God that this is the decision I followed. No doubt, it was the best. "
Murray Rosenbaltt - Chicago, Illinois (posted 3/26/03)
"The people, the techs, the doctors, the patients afforded me an experience which I never will forget. "
Bob Foster - St. Croix, USVI (posted 8/14/03)
"The stranger who overheard my conversation with the nurse and told me about Loma Linda and Proton treatment was Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed, Undersecretary General for the United Nations, former Proton patient and member of the BOB! "
Richard Woodward - Cedar Rapids, IA (posted 9/18/03)
"Given my risk profile (PSA: 32, Gleason 4+3, & T2b) I feel pretty fortunate to have gotten by this long (6 + years) without indication of recurrence. "
Fred Alexander - Santa Monica, California (posted 10/13/03)
"I was one lucky guy when I discovered protonbob.com accidentally on the Internet in a chat room."
Charles Asbury - Boothbay, Maine (posted 11/11/03)
When Charles was first diagnosed, he chose hormones and Cryosurgery. Then his PSA rose to 15. Next came Proton. PSA is 0.02 four years after treatment.
Keith W. Tantlinger - Valley Center, California (posted 2/18/04)
"Maybe recapping my prostate cancer experience would benefit some of the older guys with aggressive (Gleason 9) cancer."
Jim Miller - Battle Lake, Minnesota (posted 3/18/04)
This is an article written by Jim’s wife, Donna, for the Battle Lake Review, a local Minnesota newspaper. The article was titled, “The Beauty Of It All, Proton Cancer Therapy."
Ed Fancher - Oxnard, California (posted 3/24/04)
"I am so thankful that God directed me to the right place for treatment of my prostate cancer."
Ray Kamka - Sun City West, Arizona (posted 4/6/04)
"If I have one suggestion it is do your homework. Take some time and do your research. Look at all options and select the one that is best for you."
Leroy Howard - Dallas, Texas (posted 4/23/04)
"I know the Lord led me to Loma Linda."
Richard Shein - Providence, RI (posted 7/12/04)
"I want to thank you for the wonderful gift you gave me when you encouraged me to travel to Loma Linda for Prostate treatment with Proton."
Neal P. Monda - Paterson, New Jersey (posted 8/21/04)
Almost seven years after his treatment, Neal says, “Now, I am absolutely convinced that Proton Radiation was the right choice.”
Allan Kaufman - Owings Mills, Maryland (posted 1/9/07)
Allan’s “proton graduation” speech
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