Surprise

Today at my graduation, my brother LG and Shane made a surprise visit to Oklahoma City.  They left early this morning and drove the 7 hours from Lincoln to make my graduation.  Thank you guys.  It was a very nice surprise and I enjoyed seeing both of you.  Patty and I are heading home on Friday.  Yea!!

Graduation Day

Good afternoon, my name is Max Searcey and I’m from Marysville Kansas.  I was diagnosed in November of last year with prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer runs in my family as my father and older brother have both been treated for this disease.  I was informed of the different treatment options but never did my urologist suggest Proton radiation as a method to treat my cancer.   Luckily, a friend of mine had received proton therapy in California and after a few months of investigation I chose ProCure and Proton therapy in Oklahoma City as my treatment plan.   And I’m so glad that I did.

While in Oklahoma City I was able to visit the National Memorial of the bombing which took place here over 20 years ago.  The memorial is truly a wonderful place to come and remember those who were killed and those who survived that terrible event.  As I visited the site I was amazed to learn the story of the ‘Survival Tree’.  How did that 90 plus year old American Elm tree survive the evil of that day?  The tree was in the parking lot right next to the Murray building and should have been destroyed as most of the surroundings were that awful day. 

But there it is today, surviving and growing!  Green, full and beautiful!  I sat under that tree both times I visited and tried to understand how that tree was able to survive such a horrific event.  Well, over the years that tree had developed its root system, it grew its roots deep into the ground to be able to gather the water and nutrients it needed to expand and grow.  Its root system allowed it to survive.

As cancer patients we also must grow our root system to endure the storms that enter our life, like cancer.  We must feed our roots with nutrients of faith, family and friends. 

Cancer patients must have an understanding of faith.  We may never know the why but we must continue to believe.  “For when you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not burn up.  I have been blessed!!

Cancer patients must have strong family roots to help us survive.  I would like to thank my wife, Patty, who has been with me every day during this journey of cancer survival.  The day I learned that it was cancer, we hugged and she said we will fight this with every ounce of energy we have and we will win.  She put me on the right path that day and I can never be thankful enough for her love and support, thank you Patty.  Also, I’d like to say thank you to our children, Shannon and Shane and my grandchildren, Beau is 7, Bailee is 5 and Bree is 2; they are not here today but have offered their comfort and support and have helped me in ways they will never know.  Patty and I have a strong root system with our families and I am so thankful for it.

Cancer patients must have strong friend roots to endure.  I must say our friends have added nutrients to our root system every day.  Friends and employees at work have offered encouragement, friends have sent me cards, friends have called, friends have made daily notes for each day of my treatments, and friends have provided food and friends have supplied so many prayers.   Thank you.

And new friends have supplied my root system with strength.  Patty and I have made so many new relationships during our stay in Oklahoma.  Our new friends come from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas and so many other locations including from the other side of the pond.  Our new friends from Staybridge Suites, friends and families from the UK and other countries, thank you.  You made our stay so, so, should I just say eventful during our time here. We will never forget you.  Thank you.

And this location, a location called ProCure in Oklahoma is a survival location just like that ‘Surviving Tree’.  ProCure has allowed me and many other countless patients to overcome this evil and survive.  I can never say thank you enough.  Thank you ProCure, thank you every ProCure employee that helped me in anyway; I will forever be an advocate of Proton Therapy and ProCure.  Thank you. 

Final Week

Final week of Treatments.  Only 5 treatments to finish up my Proton therapy.  I just can't believe that this is it.  I currently have zero side affects, only two red spots, about the size of a donut on both hips where the Proton radiation enters each day.  I can't wait to be home.  I have two treatments on Friday so it will be a late arrival on Friday evening.  I will have to get back into my regular routine but will so enjoy family and friends.  

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.  

Quick overview video on Proton Therapy

ProCure Video

The numbers are the times in the above video.  For reference purposes only.

1:02  CYCLOTRON

1:28  223 MPH  (that's pretty darn fast)

Aperture: A metal block containing a hole through which the radiation  (proton) beam passes. Each field or area of treatment for each patient requires a custom-made aperture. The shape of the hole is the approximate shape of the target being treated by the beam. Every patient has her or his own set of apertures, and no other patients use them. (Gold device in video)  1:57

Compensator: A custom-made, beam-shaping device through which a proton beam is delivered. It is used to absorb some energy from the proton beam so that it stops just on the edges of the target or tumor. This keeps the normal, healthy tissues beyond the tumor from receiving radiation. This is used with an aperture. The compensator for each patient is made from thick acrylic and created in our on-site machine shop.  (Blue item in video)  2:02

2:33 MY ROOM  (and it ain't no couch)

I'm going to bring my aperture home with me, they won't let me take the compensator, guess it has some radiation in it, they won't let me have it as my doc says they remain hot for a long time!!

Trying to locate a video of the balloon procedure, I wonder if they will film me tomorrow.  

Quote

Met Billy at the Tuesday evening dine around.  He's from the Wichita area also but is staying at a different hotel here in Oklahoma City.  At this dine around the patients were all prostate cancer patients.  So we were able to share some funny and then some very funny stories.

Billy:  I told those nurse technicians in the treatment room that if it ever looks like I'm starting to enjoy this (the daily balloon) you get me the hell out of here.  Billy also told me he was going to have a tattoo placed down there: a bouquet of balloons.  I don't know, maybe you had to be there or be a prostate cancer patient.

Chuck:  He came up front and just gave a wonderful graduation speech today.  His first comment, this is for the nurse technicians, this is what I look like from the other end.

Have a great day...........

Graduation Day

Only one more graduation to attend, mine.  Next Wednesday is my graduation day from proton treatment.  After today's treatment I only have 8 more treatments.  That means 36 down and 8 more to go.  Another patient asked me today how many treatments I had completed, I had to think, when you get to end you seem to know the number of treatments remaining not the number you have already had.  After asking me that question I actually had to take a moment and think to calculate the number.  Didn't take long to come up with the number though.

Chuck from Wichita, Kansas graduated today.  His insurance company denied his request to pay for proton therapy.  Took him several tries but it was overturned and the insurance company consented to pay for his therapy.  I know it doesn't sound like much but between Chuck and my overturn at BCBS we had proton therapy approved by two the top insurers in Kansas.  Yep, we are leading the way for proton therapy for Kansas residents, please tell anyone you know who may benefit from this type of cancer treatment.  Thank you.  

Chuck's last treatment was Monday, he drives everyday from Wichita.  He went outside to start his car on Monday at 6:00am but forgot something in his house so he ran back in the house to pick it up.  It was raining and he lives on a very quiet street, while in the house he heard tires spinning on the wet street only to look out and see his car speeding down the street. Someone had stolen his car.

Not to be defeated, Chuck called police then jumped into his old pickup and headed out for the 2 1/2 hour trip to ProCure for his last treatment.  He wasn't even late.  Just goes to show you what anyone will do to have that last treatment of proton therapy.  

Aperture

Aperture

A metal block containing a hole through which the radiation ( proton) beam passes. Each portal for each patient requires a custom-made aperture. The shape of the hole is the approximate shape of the target being treated by the beam. Every patient has her or his own set of apertures, and no other patients use them.

My MRI and CT Scan created my aperture by allowing the technicians to know the size of my prostate.  The purple above in this example could be my prostate.  If you look at my prostate and look at the picture above in the actual room where the apertures are created see how they look the same.  The proton beam passes through my aperture and treats my prostate.  My treatment treats my prostate and only my prostate.  Spares the other organs which mean less side affects and more quality of life after treatment.  Hope this helps you understand the procedure.

Then when you throw in the physics of this procedure the radiation beam (proton) releases the bulk of its power when it hits the tumor.  I understand nothing about physics.  In fact, I don't ever remember taking any physics class while in high school and I know I didn't take any in college (cause I picked the classes I wanted to enroll in).  

Only 11 More

I'm on the home stretch.  Only 11 more treatments  of proton radiation left (11, the number of World Series Championships won by my baseball team, the Cardinals)  until I can ring the bell.  When you undergo proton radiation after the last treatment you are able to come out to the lobby and ring the bell to signify that you are finished with all of your treatments.  I have seen several people ring that bell and I can tell you they must have some very long screws in the wall the way some people ring that bell.  Heck, they may have bolts in the concrete to keep that bell stable.  I plan on ringing that bell long and hard on my last day, August 19th.  Once this week is finished I'll only have 6 treatments left.  My doctor informed me that I could have two treatments the last day, one early in the morning and then one late in the afternoon.  Thank you.

Some of you may want to know that I'm having almost 'no' side affects from the treatments.  I may be a little tired but really I can tell you I'm feeling great.  How do we know if the treatments are working, well, 3 months after I'm finished my first PSA test will inform us of the results.  We are hoping for a drop.  All patients I have visited with tell me their PSA dropped so I'm going with the averages, 100% have a lower PSA.  Isn't it funny that for the last few years it has been stated that we are doing too many PSA tests.  And now, after treatments, the only test to monitor your cancer is the PSA.  Get your PSA tested today, do not wait, call for an appointment now.  (Men)

Patty and I usually are up early in the morning, have a light breakfast with coffee and then take off on a 3-4 mile walk which includes walking the mall that is right next door to the hotel.  It took us a few weeks to get our routine down but now if we are unable to get that walk in we don't quite feel right.

After the walk, usually I go for my treatment to ProCure.  This usually takes about an hour or longer depending upon how many people are at the Cancer Center, it always neat to meet new friends and patients at the center.  Most of the prostate stories are very similar.  The actual radiation from start to finish is only 70 seconds, I have counted it many times.  After treatment we have a quick lunch, I put in time checking in at work then we try to have something planned in the later part of the afternoon to finish off the day.

Thank goodness for the Olympics this week, there has been 'zero' on TV the last few weeks, and the Cardinals are losing so baseball isn't even fun to watch.  The next 14 days will tell if the Cardinals make the playoffs or not, oh yea, we have won the Central division the last 4 years.  Just saying.........................

I'd like to say thank you to everyone, family and friends for your thoughts and prayers.  They do make a difference.

Thank you, Protonmax.

Life Just Isn't

Life isn't about keeping score.  It's not about how many people call you and it's not about who you've dated, are dating or haven't dated at all.  It isn't about who you've kissed, what sport you play, or which guy or girl likes you.  It's not about your shoes or your hair or the color of your skin or where you live or go to school.  In fact, it's not about grades, money, clothes, or colleges that accept you or not.  Life isn't about if you have lots of friends, or if you are alone, and it's not about how accepted or unaccepted you are.  Life just isn't about that.

But life is about who you love and who you hurt.  It's about how you feel about yourself.  It's about trust, happiness and compassion.  It's about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love.  Life is about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance and building confidence.  It's about what you say and what you mean.  It's about seeing people for who they are and not what they have most of all, it is about choosing to use your life to touch someone else's in a way that could never have been achieved otherwise.  These choices are what life's about.

                      Author Unknown

Graduation last week

Graduation last week was another emotional time.  Several adult graduates thanked everyone for the superior treatment they received from the employees at ProCure.  All of them were so thankful to find Proton Therapy and ProCure.  The room was full last Wednesday and my treatment was after the program and the therapists in my treatment room stated that this was the fullest they had ever seen the graduation room.  In fact, most of them did not even eat because the room was so full.  The testimonies were so surreal, you just can't believe this place, I'm serious.

Across from Patty and I at the graduation luncheon was one of the first patients to be treated. Once I left for my treatment Patty and him discussed how he found ProCure.  I believe he drove by this place wondering what was being built.  In fact, he even went and knocked on the back door to find out what was going to be installed in this building.  He found out it was a cancer treatment facility.  Lo and behold, several months later he was diagnosis with prostate cancer.  Yes you know it, he came back to ProCure during regular working hours and investigated Proton Therapy.  He was treated and is doing fine, he was so glad he took the initiative and knocked on that back door.

Another young child's story was told.  This time a family from Spain.  Ivan was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 9 months old.  Today he is 6 years old.  His father told us the history and the story of Ivan.  The father literally recited every treatment Ivan had, every type of therapy, told there was no hope and sent home twice to die.  It seemed like this young boy's treatments took 10 minutes to tell.  How strong is this boy, the strongest I know along with his parents.  They stay at the Staybridge Suites so we have seen them everyday.

All the young children have videos played to music.  They show pictures of the kids throughout their journey of dealing with the cancer.  These kids are just normal children until this disease gets a hold.  Ivan's video included a picture showing him being blessed by the Pope.  I just can't imagine going through over 5 years of treatments, therapies, doctors, insurance companies, hospitals and everything that goes with cancer.  They are truly saints to keep the fight going, and they have never, ever given up.  (Jimmy V)

Hug someone that is close to you today, especially a child.  Then say a prayer.

Protonmax.