[PHI Redacted]As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Prostate Cancer Support Association of New Mexico I want to comment on Medicare funding for proton therapy.

There are so many uncontrolled variables in the treatment of PC it is virtually impossible to derive quantifiable data to compare the treatment options available. [PHI Redacted] carefully studied PC treatment options hoping to find one that would be a true "Magic Bullet". [PHI Redacted] could not find a particular option that significantly stood above all others. [PHI Redacted] next step was to compare side effects,both during and post treatment. It was, and still is, my conclusion that proton therapy offers a "cure" rate as good as any and the absolute least side effects that impact quality of life. As a facilitator at our support meetings in New Mexico I frequently hear men state they regret not using proton therapy in preference to the treatment option they had selected. True, it is costly. However, a man''s quality of life is minimally affected by proton therapy, The revenue from Proton therapy may also contribute to on- going proton beam research. There are other medical applications of proton therapy that cannot be duplicated by other therapies, e.g., non-operable brain tumors. I respectfully ask that you continue to fund Medicare payments for treatment of prostate cancer.