Patient Testimonials

I received Proton Therapy Treatments at UFPTI in Jacksonville, FL. My last treatment was 1/26/07 and I have had no side effects. About half way through my treatments I was put on Flomax to alleviate the pressure on my bladder caused by swelling of the prostate gland. I continued the use of Flomax for about two weeks after the final treatment and then went cold turkey. I can urinate better today than before the treatment. I feel that I made the correct decision to use the "Proton Therapy" treatment. The UFPTI staff of tech’s that treated me, Dr Vargas and the nurses, Pat and Connie could not have made me and the rest of the patients feel more comfortable during the process.
It was a lonely two months to be living away from my wife and home, but that was the worst part of the whole experience, I didn’t even mind the 12 biopsy’s.

After a lot of research on the Internet and battling with my insurance company, I started my Proton Beam Therapy at the UFPTI in Jacksonville, FL on 11\07\2006. I was the 16th patient to receive Proton Therapy at this new facility. I completed my 39th and final treatment on 01\04\2007 and since that time I have had NO ADVERSE side effects associated with my treatments. My PSA before the start of my treatments was 9.7, with a PSA of 8.04 at the end of my treatments and 3 months after treatments my PSA was 3.02. I anticipate that my PSA will go even lower by my 6 month review. During my treatments I received excellent care from the entire UFPTI staff that administered my treatments, from Dr. Vargas, the nurses Pat & Connie, the entire Radiological Technologic Staff and behind the scenes personnel. They were all very caring and compassionate. Choosing Proton Therapy Treatments at UFPTI was the best decision that I have ever made in my life.

I finished my treatments on Wednesday March 07, 2007. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the new friends as we spent chatting away the waiting time during the treatments. I find that each "group" of patients kind of form their own membership and then that concludes with the passing of the group as they "graduate". I have had no adverse side effects from the treatment and found the employees of the UFPTI proton center to be first class without exception. Dr. Vargas is a rare individual and is setting a great pace for his employees. Thanks to the research by Dr. Vargas, most of the patients are receiving saline solution each day before their treatment instead of the balloon (Hooray)!!! Good group, good treatment and a great solution to all the prostate alternative treatments that the world has available. We found the best.

I was 71 at the start of treatment and my Gleason score was seven (3+4). I have nothing but praise for the doctors, nurses and technicians at UFPTI during my weeks there. I walked into the Proton Center on Dec. 27 and met Amy with those infamous white bottles of that awful tasting stuff. From that moment until my last treatment on March 27, I considered I had outstanding professional care. From the very beginning the staff sets a “tone” of confidence and comfort that permeates the entire experience, all enhanced by a magnificent facility that never seemed to have that “medical facility” atmosphere.
During treatment I did experience some minor painful urination, urgency and weak stream. Because I have a history of kidney problems, I was already on Flomax, which I believe helped me considerably going into the treatment stage. As I neared the end of treatment Dr. Vargas suggested I increase my dosage from one to two Flomax per day until one month after my last treatment. The urinary problems are essentially gone now and I do have nights when I do not have to get up to go to the bathroom, something I had been doing each night for probably 3 to 4 years.

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Material appearing here represents opinions offered by non-medically-trained laypersons. Comments shown here should NEVER be interpreted as specific medical advice and must be used only as background information when consulting with a qualified medical professional.