IMRT in LA area

Can anyone recommend a good radiologist in the LA area that does IMRT? I live in Palm Springs area. They just found a tumor in the transition zone, G7, 16X18mm after 13 biopsies. One doc says that this is the cause of my high PSA, 30. Another doc says it doesn't explain the the total reason for the high PSA.

Both recommend radiation as the position of the tumor will most likely result in a positive surgical margin.

I'm having bone scans and and a CAT tommorrow and may get my lymp nodes tested with nano iron oxide particles. Has anyone had this procedure? It's only done in Europe as it's non FDA approved.

Is IRMT covered by most insurance?

Any experience with the effects of IRMT on quality of life?

John T

Hi John,
IMRT should be covered by all carriers as it is the most common form of radiation therapy. This may not be true for Protons and other forms. Pretty much all the major cancer centers will have the ability to provide for radiation therapy of some sort. UCLA, USC, UCI, City of Hope, and Loma Linda, to name a few.

My experience was at the City of Hope, but that was for surgery. My radiation therapy was performed here is Las Vegas.

Tony

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Age 46 (44 when Dx)

Pre-op PSA was 19.8

Surgery on Feb 16, 2007 @ The City of Hope

Post-Op Pathology: Gleason 4+3=7, positive margins, Extra Prostatic Extension (EPE)

Bilateral seminal vesicle invasion (SVI); Stage pT3b, N0, Mx

HT began in May, '07 with Lupron and Casodex 50mg (2 Year ADT)

IMRT radiation for 38 Treatments ending August 3, '07

Current PSA (September 17 '08): <0.1 ~ Undetectable!

You can visit my Journey at:

Tony's Blog

Tony's Prostate Cancer InfoLink Page

STAY POSITIVE!

My family Doctor was trained at Loma Linda and I have many other friends who live in CA.  It would be the first place any of them would go.  Loma Linda is where the proton beam radiation was pioneered.

It is at least worth your time to have a look.

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Age 51

Father died of prostate cancer at 73

Yearly PSA testing.

Biopsy after PSA went up .75 in one year

6 of 12 in needle biopsy where cancerous

DaVinci surgery 4/15/2008

Last PSA .008