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John Barna-Lloyd and Trudy live in Texas U.S.A.. He was 57 when he was diagnosed in April 1993. His initial PSA was 6.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 4+3=7 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Cryotherapy and when that failed, Proton Beam . Here is his story, brief as it is.

After two failed sessions of cryotherapy, first one in 1993 and again in 1995, Dr. Fred Lee told me in 1999 he could not cure my cancer.

After a lot of study I had Proton Radiation at Loma Linda starting in December 1999. All PSAs since have been <0.01.

Side effects: mild erectile dysfunction from second cryotherapy session. I use a VED (Vacuum Erection Device).

 

UPDATED

July 2008

 

 

For my E.D. issue I now take 25 mg of generic (Indian) Viagra daily. I still use my V.E.D. but things are improving rapidly with the daily pill. I hope I will eventually retire the V.E.D.

I serve as a Patient Advocate at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital once a week. I don't advise any specific treatment but try and help the new patients select what is "right" for them so that they may be as lucky as me, cancer free and everything still working.

 

UPDATED

March 2009

 

 

Need to correct a few errors and add a few things.

First my staging was T3C.

I was on ADT before each of my treatments 3 months for the 2 Cryos and 6 months for the proton. (I received my last shot at Loma Linda)

My Proton Treatments were from Dec 2002 to Feb 2003.

Side effects of frequent urination lasted for several months following each Cryo.

E.D. was acute for several years following Cryo.

No longer have urinary frequency.

After Proton radiation I experienced light rectal bleeding corrected by a colonoscopy.

John's current PSA is less than 0.01 ng/ml.

 

UPDATED

July 2010

 

 

There is nothing to change except that I have grown older. I still volunteer as a clinical assistant at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,Radiation Oncology,in Houston.

Since I have been speaking out and learning about PCa from 1993 to date, I get a lot of calls and Emails from folks who want to know about PCa. I speak at public forums and reply to questions and pleas from several internet organizations.

I was lucky. With 3 treatment modes under my belt all systems still function as designed though wounded and aged. I give little advice and only when pressed. I try to impart knowledge of the PCa beast so the uninformed can learn and make the best choice for their treatment after obtaining as many facts as possible.

Keep up your good work

John.

 

UPDATED

December 2011

 

There is nothing to add to my story other than I am getting older.

I am often asked by fellow patients. "How is it after treatment?" In as much as I still do volunteer work at M.D. Anderson's Radiation Oncology Department in Houston (both Proton and Brachy) I get a lot of questions. My answer is that treatment changes you in many ways. None of them good. The sexual changes are well documented and vary from no sex to you need a little help. Urination is also affected. There again from a little urgency to can't go at all.

My effects are all on the low end. Age is showing it's effects also. Remember I was first treated at age 57 some 20 years ago.

Life is good.

John's e-mail address is: jbl1301@msn.com