Radiology And You - Patient Testimonials

Living With Cancer
Targeted Radiation Therapies Offer Hope to Patients

Steve Jones, Prostate Cancer Survivor
Steve Jones’ life was going along just as he had planned it. He and part of his family were building a house in Fuquay-Varina. It would be the new family home that would bring three generations together under one roof – Steve, his wife, Donna, his daughter, Tiffany, son-in-law, Richard and their six grandchildren. Then Jones was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“My PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen – blood test that helps diagnose prostate cancer) jumped to 4.7 in August 2006, while it had only been 1.7 nine months earlier,” explained the 60-year-old Jones. “I first took a two-week regimen of antibiotics, just in case it was an infection, but that wasn’t the case.”

Jones was referred to a specialist who confirmed through a biopsy that he had cancer. The physician laid out what Jones thought were all of his options – surgical removal of the prostate, implantation of radiation seeds or what is known as “watchful waiting” to see if the PSA number would continue to rise.

“I remember thinking that I didn’t like those options, especially since I am the primary care giver for my wife, who has Parkinson’s disease,” noted Jones. “I know that whatever treatment we selected, it had to allow me to continue being her main support.”

Jones called Dr. Andrew Kennedy of Wake Radiology Oncology Services, who reviewed all of Jones’ options, including a new one – Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).

"IMRT is an advanced radiation therapy that spares most of the surrounding healthy tissue, while directly killing the cancer cells. We were the first in the Triangle to offer this technology and typically use it to treat prostate, head & neck cancers and spinal tumors" says Dr. Kennedy.

“When we heard about IMRT, it didn’t take long for us to decide on that course of treatment,” explained Jones. “I was juggling a lot of balls at the time so I needed a treatment that would work, but would not result in a lot of down time.”

Jones underwent 38 treatments that he received for about 20 minutes each morning on his way to work. Some patients can have side effects, including fatigue, skin breakdown, frequent or painful urination, upset stomach and more, but Jones said that he only had some minor fatigue, causing him to miss three half days at work.

Today, Jones is living with his big family in their new house. His PSA has dropped to .006, and there is no palpable sign of cancer in his prostate. His advice to men diagnosed with prostate cancer is to “realize that there are excellent treatments that weren’t available five years ago, and these options allow you to continue living your life without debilitating side effects.”