Proton Therapy Treats Prostate Cancer with Minimal Side Effects

After undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, Alberto Gonzalez, who turned 80 in August, is itching to get back on his bike. In fact, he’s already thinking about an around-the-state ride to help draw awareness to prostate cancer and raise funds for Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, where he was treated.
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[Transcript]
(soft music)
[Baptist Health South Florida logo]
[Alberto Gonzalez, Patient]
In 2018 I visited my primary doctor, Dr. Carl Digua. And he noticed that my PSA was very high. So he advised me to go and see his doctor, so I went to see Sandman, and Sandman checked me up and did a biopsy, and yes, the cancer was just about to expand and metastasize to the different areas.
[Marcio Fagundes, M.D., Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute]
We saw Alberto in 2018 and because of his Gleason score and other features of his cancer, his treatment consisted of a combination of blocking the testosterone and radiation to the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes. Like many other patients with high risk prostate cancer, Alberto was a very good candidate for proton therapy.
[video of doctor and patient interaction]
[Marcio Fagundes, M.D.]
Proton therapy is a type of radiation that uses particles. It goes into the body and we can stop it where the cancer is. We don't radiate areas of the body, healthy ones that are deeper unnecessarily.
[Alberto Gonzalez, Patient]
When I first saw the proton therapy machine, it's impressive. I thought I was going to travel into Mars or out of space. It's really fantastic.
[video of the proton therapy machine and Alberto with his medical team]
[Marcio Fagundes, M.D.]
Prostate cancer can be treated in many different ways and we have all of the modalities to treat prostate cancer here at the Miami Cancer Institute.
[Alberto Gonzalez, Patient]
The day that I rung the bell, it was a great feeling. They all wanted me to ring it harder but it was a fantastic feeling.
[pictures of Alberto ringing the bell and with his medical team]
[Alberto Gonzalez, Patient]
If this interview can help anyone, I want them to enjoy that, I want them to go through it, I want them to fight, don't give up. Fight and you can beat your cancer.
[Lina Gonzalez, Patient's wife]
I believe the Miami Cancer Institute is the best place and we both thank God that all of our steps and all of our doctors brought us over here.
(soft music)
[Baptist Health South Florida logo]
[end of transcript]