THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2015 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

My diagnosis came as quite a shock because I am a runner and monitor my body very closely. I had no symptoms of prostate cancer, but went for a check up at the urging of a friend.

I received 44 proton radiation therapy treatments at Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington, Indiana. It was totally non-invasive.

My current PSA is 1.2 and heading down. With this type of treatment the PSA is expected to fall slowly.

Now I just go every year for a follow-up and am enjoying a good life with no side effects.

I recently created a blogsite to offer help and support to anyone who is newly diagnosed. I will write about YANA's very helpful site in my blog tomorrow.

I am willing to speak with anyone who could benefit from support.

Here's to low PSAs.

Rick Otey

I am coming up on four years post treatment and everything is going good.

My doctor does think that I may have prostatitis and could be why my PSA hasn't gone below 1.2. I go every three to four months to keep track of my PSA.

Proton Beam Therapy was a tremendous decision for me to treat my prostate cancer.

Rick's PSA is 1.1 ng/ml and he says:

I am 5 years from diagnosis and coming up this summer on 5 years post treatment with proton beam. I am currently speaking with many men who are newly diagnosed through contact with my blog

I continue to do well with my post treatment progress. I was treated with Proton Beam Radiation at Bloomington, Indiana in the summer of 2005. I am currently 61 years old. My PSA has continued to drop and has reached 0.8 as of November 2010. I have had no side effects from PBT and am very thankful for that.

I run 2 miles a day and walk 5 miles a day. Staying in shape in order to play with my grandchildren (ages 7, 6,5,5,3,2 and new born)is very important to me. I serve on the board of our local Us TOO chapter in Peoria, Illinois and have enjoyed meeting men and their family's as they navigate the course of coming to a decision to treat their prostate cancer.

I continue to monitor my blog and have received almost 3000 hits from 64 countries. Having prostate cancer has opened up a whole new door in helping people. I talk weekly with people who have found my blog and are looking to make a decision. I will remain open to helping anyone who needs it.

Rick Otey

I am currently seven years post treatment and have had no side effects. My current PSA is 0.6 and I can say that because of Proton Beam Therapy, cancer was just a blip on the screen of my life. I continue to hear horror stories from men who have not fared as well by choosing other treatment options.

While I wish all men well in their search, it's beyond me why more men don't at least look at Proton Beam as an option to treat their cancer.

I continue to enjoy a great life at 62 and exercise eveyday. I have energy to keep up with seven grandchildren (ages 8-1).

Rick Otey

I have a yearly check up and I continue to enjoy a side effect free life, thanks to the amazing Proton Beam treatment I received.

Rick's e-mail address is: ricksdetailing AT yahoo.com (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: Rick has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.