Born Again At Loma Linda University Medical Center
Sunday, June 01, 2003
"My experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center was the start of a new life for me. I was reborn." That’s how John Ebin refers to his treatment for prostate cancer with proton therapy at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
John’s bout with cancer has come full circle since he heard those dreaded words from his doctor. "I’ve got bad news for you." That’s when John found out he had prostate cancer. Within minutes of the conversation, John’s world turned upside down. "They must have confused my results with the real prostate cancer patient," John recalls thinking.
But John, who says he’s unaccustomed to losing, dubbed his day of diagnosis as "C-day." Not cancer day, but cure day. He immediately began to explore his options. John looked into every resource available to fight his battle against cancer. "I have the equivalent of a fourdrawer metal file of research on prostate treatments," jokes John.
In his quest for a cure, John spent three months traversing the country to visit the top specialists. He found that: radical prostectomy surgery would remove the prostate, local lymph nodes, and some surrounding tissue; radiation therapy came in varying forms, from external beams to implanted radioactive seeds, known as Brachytherapy; cryosurgery could destroy the prostate gland by freezing; and hormone therapy attempts could alter hormone levels and cause the tumor to shrink.
Each treatment offered a chance at a cure, but for John, there were other things to consider. "I was ‘the perfect candidate’ for surgery and radiation, but I was concerned about side effects."
So John continued looking for an answer. Along the way, he came across Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Proton Treatment Center. Armed with a notebook full of questions, John visited Loma Linda to find out what proton therapy was all about. After a two-hour consultation with Carl Rossi, MD, radiation oncology, John discovered he would be a perfect candidate for proton therapy, with a strong chance for minimal side effects.
Proton therapy also had a good reputation among patients. "I heard no horror stories whatsoever from proton patients," John says.
So after John read everything he could find on treatment options and visiting the finest medical centers in the world, he concluded that proton therapy offered him the best chance of a cure with the least chance of serious, long-term side effects.
John reflects on his experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center. "I feel that Loma Linda’s program ‘to make man whole,’ regardless of treatment, is a very significant approach to cancer. With surgery you’re cut, you have a follow-up, and you’re done. At Loma Linda I had nine weeks of intensive care for my whole person. Each time I walked in the doors to Loma Linda, I felt as if I was the only patient the staff had."
In addition to receiving proton therapy, John participated in a weekly prostate cancer support group at the Medical Center. "I was exposed to a diverse group of men and their caregivers each Wednesday night under the direction of Gerry Troy. It was an incredible assortment of wonderful people, all in the same boat, with warmth and affection for each other. We all shared our highs and lows. When I finished my treatment, I had tears in my eyes and was sad to leave."
With the help of proton therapy, John won his war against cancer. "I believe I am cured of prostate cancer, thanks to the foresight and guts of Drs. James and Jerry Slater and their outstanding health team. I have been ‘made whole.’"
John now serves on the Loma Linda University Proton Treatment Center International Advisory Council with past patients and others who advocate for proton therapy and undertake activities to advance proton therapy research. "We realize that the future holds a great deal of promise from the continuing research that is being conducted under the guidance of Drs. Slater and their medical scientists."
To help further this research, John has made a gift to the James M. Slater Endowed Chair at Loma Linda. In addition, he has included the Slater Chair in his estate plan.
