Loma Linda California
 

We live in Michigan and are likely to travel to Loma Linda in Oct for proton treatment for prostate cancer...I know the center is sending info but would like to hear if anyone has any info or suggestions on where to stay...and what's there...we will have to be there for 9-12 weeks.. Thanks in advance.

Loma Linda is half way between LA and Palm Springs. Its also half an hour from Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

First, let me wish you the best of luck with your treatments.

Loma Linda is near the border of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Stay away from the actual city of San Bernardino. The SB mountains and national forest are lovely, but the city, not so much. Hopefully, someone else can help you with lodging and restaurants in the immediate area.

Within an hour, you can get away to some pretty nice places:

The historic Mission Inn in Riverside is worth the 1/2 hour drive: www.missioninn.com/

Temecula wine country: www.temeculawines.org/

Lake Arrowhead: www.lakearrowhead.net/

Big Bear Lake: www.bigbearinfo.com/index.php

Palm Springs/Palm Desert has the aerial tram: www.pstramway.com, the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden www.livingdesert.org and many great shops and restaurants.

There are factory outlets and an Indian Casino in Cabazon: www.morongocasinoresort.com/

Idyllwild is another mountain resort closeby.

Thanks for the info...will keep you posted. We are very optomistic, but will certainly be out of our element! I still can't believe this is happening!

wow..I am really surprised that these are the only (although very helpful) responses...the US forum sinks very quickly!

Redlands is a nice city next to Loma Linda. LL has a great reputation - good luck.

Reiterating bigtyke's comment... Loma Linda has an excellent reputation.

I also agree with his Redlands suggestion. If you want to treat yourselves, spend a night or two at the Mission Inn. Or just go for a nice lunch or dinner.

www.missioninnn.com

A little farther away (about 45 minutes) is beautiful Lake Arrowhead. We stay in our friends' cabin, so I can't recommend lodging. Mid-week accommodations in the fall should be very easy to find, but I'm less sure about weekends without reservations. As you get further into your stay in Loma Linda, watch the weather and don't take this excursion if rain or snow is in the forecast.

Best of luck with the medical treatment.

First, good luck with the treatments if you do go to Loma Linda. Our first grandchild had surgery there at age 3 weeks and she has done beautifully. I have great respect for this facility. I live in Indiana now, but lived in Rancho Cucamonga for about 15 years. RC is about 45 minutes from Loma Linda. You've been given some good suggestions about places to go, but you should also be aware of how HOT it can be that time of the year. And often vey windy. The temps do drop in the late afternoon, though, and can be quite chilly. Very different weather than here in the Midwest. Of course, the weather can also change quickly, so layering will be helpful. If you head out towards Palm Springs there are hundreds of windmills, not the Holland kind, but for generating power. Still, they're rather pretty. And the desert is always interesting to me. There's also an Indian casino, I think the name is Morango, if you like gambling. In Palm Springs there's a sky tram to the top of the small mountain, which is fun if the wind isn't blowing too hard. And if you really want to go back in time you can visit the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum. I'll have to find a link to that and add it, it has moved since I was there last. They even have Trigger, stuffed and larger than life! I'm sure all these won't appeal to you, some are rather quirky, but who knows, you might find them interesting.
Good luck.

Never mind about Roy Rogers, they moved the museum to Branson, Mo. I also didn't see the posts with the casino and skylift info. Sorry.

Oh thank you Challiman, RBCal, lvk,
Jean and Bigtyke! You don't know how much I appreciate any thread of info..as we are sitting and waiting for "the call"...the more we read, the more certain we are that we have made the right decision...but it is a big step and people around here look at us rather strangely, as if to say..what's wrong with surgery, or local radiation?

You're very welcome. Another idea is to figure out if you have any sort of connections to anyone or any organization in that area. A college sorority or fraternity, a civic organization, a church in your denomination, or any other, for that matter, anything that would connect you to someone who lives there and could be a resource. We've moved all over and my security blanket has always been Beta Sigma Phi, a non-college sorority. Maybe you can network in some way and get some personalized support.

What a great suggestion, Challiman! I don't know why I never thought of the church connection! I will phone someone tomorrow or Monday! Great idea! Thank you and hugs!

Another thought is the hospital Social Work Dept or the Patient Liaison. They often provide info on temporary housing as well as other relevant community resources.

lvk has given you some very good suggestions of nearby places to go. Here are a few more:

Claremont - this is a college town and the downtown area is small but has some good restaurants. There's also a botanical gardens which is very interesting if you are into plants.

Further along westward is Pasadena which also has a nice downtown area with plenty of good restaurants. There's also the Norton Simon Museum, which is a great museum - one you shouldn't miss if you're in Southern California. You've probably seen the Norton Simon Museum because it's on the parade route during the Rose Parade.

Going further west, you'll get to downtown Los Angeles. You can visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry.

Going even further West, there's the Farmer's Market on Fairfax and 3rd. There's also a large shopping complex called the "Grove" but i find the Farmer's Market fascinating.

Onward and westward you'll find yourself in Santa Monica and the beach with the Pacific Ocean, Malibu, and the Getty Museum. If there's one museum to go to in the Greater Los Angeles area, my choice would be the Getty.

If instead of heading West you were to head Southwest from Loma Linda you will eventually reach Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. Further westward from there and you'll reach the beach towns like Redondo Beach and Venice. These would be worthwhile exploring on a weekend. Weekends are good and bad - the freeway traffic wouldn't be as nasty, so that's good, but the beach areas will be crowded, which would be bad (especially for parking!).

Way to the southwest would be San Diego and it's satellite communities. You could visit San Diego if you planned on an overnight stay.

OTOH, if you were to head slightly Northwestward, you'll get to Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

In fact, you have the whole of greater Los Angeles to explore. Are you sure you have ONLY 9-12 weeks? (Just kidding! :) )

On lodging: There is a hotel/motel near the university, believe it's called Loma Linda Hotel or Loma Linda Motel.

Once God forsook me, I say this, because I had to stay in some "God forsaken" chain hotel in San Bernardino - believe it was a Sheraton or a Hilton or something like that.

If you find that the LL motel is better, then do stay there. I wouldn't recommend that Sheraton, even though it was supposedly close to Loma Linda University.

You might even be able to get away on weekends and stay at one of the beach towns or San diego for one or two nights.

Good luck to you on the health front. I have a relative who has been going to Loma Linda for several years. It's one of the best cancer facilities in the nation.

easytraveler, thanks for taking on the task of explaining retired04's westward options. :)

I was thinking that 9-12 weeks is an awful lot of time to be spending in a hotel, eating in restaurants (or hospital food).

You might want to check in the the Oakwood chain of furnished apartments. www.oakwood.com I see a few in Redlands. This way, you can have your own kitchen and be able to stretch out. Other choices might be Residence Inn, Embassy Suites, etc.

I have downloaded and printed a great list of options provided by the hospital. Thanks to all of you who provided me with such a wealth of information! Believe me, it is much appreciated. I will keep you all posted! Just waiting for the appt. call.

Just checking in to see how things are going. I'm sure this is an anxious time for all your family. Sending thoughts and prayers for a good outcome and some special time together as you go through this trying time.

Challiman! Thanks so much for your kind wishes. We are currently awaiting a call from LL...we had the last colonsocopy records sent at their request a week ago..now we are just waiting..and waiting...

I'm hyperventilating! Just got a call and we have an appt on Nov 12..DH..is out taking his FLYING lesson(!) so he doesn't even know yet...yikes so much to do, where to start...questions questions! My dear BIL and DD are going to split dog duties and a friend will look after my house...I have never been away from home for that long! 3 weeks is about it..and clear across the country! I have a headache!!!

But it's all falling into place! No worries from here on.

It's all good.

So glad you got the call and now things will move quickly. Flying lessons? With that attitude you have won half the battle!
Will remember you in thoughts and prayers and please keep us posted. You have a lot of people who are interested, perfect strangers but still we care. I'll be traveling Oct 15-29, but I'll check here between now and then and as soon as I'm home. One day at a time.....

I'm sorry to hear about your treatments, but I do sincerely hope things work out for the best.

Never been to LL, but was in Redlands last year visiting the University of Redlands. Beautiful campus and school. Their website is very helpful.

For food:
http://www.redlands.edu/x492.xml

About the city:
http://www.redlands.edu/x91.xml

About the region:
http://www.redlands.edu/x92.xml
(this part has links to all the area highlights)

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

Nov 12 is a long time away, and I'm surprised that your appointment is 2 months away.

Can I throw another idea in here, The Cancer Center of America has several locations around the country and has an excellent reputation for working with the patient to address the cancer from all possible points of view, including diet and treatment options.

2 months to wait for treatment could make a difference.

If you need locations please let me know, and I will find them for you. I know that there is one in Philadelphia because a friend went there for care.

I am sure that you mean only the best, travelbuff, but I do not believe it is appropriate to second-guess someone's obviously well-considered choice for their own medical treatment.

Loma Linda has one of the vert few proton beam synchrotons for cancer treatment in the USA.

If you are still looking for some housing help, please post your email and I can try to help. I have a friend who is a social worker at Loma Linda University in one of the Transplant units there. Loma Linda has a lot of resources to help you out, so if they have not sent you the details yet, I can try to get some info for you.

I would never presume to second guess, but living in Michigan they may not know about the Cancer Centers and if it were my family I would want to know as many resources as possible, which is why I added the post.

ltr: I am awaiting written confirmation from LL...they have sent me a list of housing options..we are planning on flying out..having the consult...flying home and hopefully driving back..that drive should take 4 days of 8 hour driving per day. That way we can check out housing on the first trip..(with of course preliminary research)...drive so we can take more "stuff" and have our own car while we are out there...any other info you have would be welcome.

[email protected]

You have mail.

We are SOOOOO SOOOO glad we chose this place! It's awesome! Wonderful treatment..the motto is "To Make Man Whole". In addition to no side effects and an excellent quality of life with proton therapy, we have been having a great time meeting lots of wonderful people from all over the world and also exploring Southern California! Two more weeks..and then we will return for follow-up (our choice) in four months as we have fallen in love with the area, and there is still so much to explore...

Retired04, thanks for coming back to update us. And congratulations on the treatment experience!

If you enjoyed SoCal in the fall/winter, you're going to love it in the spring. Here's a nice excursion in April/early May:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

And, if you like gardens, here are two that are spectacular in the spring.

http://www.descansogardens.org/site/home.cfm

http://www.huntington.org/

Hi retired04,

I also thank you for reporting back. I had been thinking about you, and am so glad your experience has been positive. I'm sure you have been enjoying the beautiful weather and emailing pictures back to your frozen friends and family back in MI. :D

When you come back, be sure to check this website to see where the wildflowers will be blooming:
www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html

Still wishing you the best of luck and health!

We're home..there's no place like home...but we'll never forget the "Maggic of Loma Linda"...going back in June...thanks to all of you..and any questions..please feel free to ask...we are "apostles" of proton treatment now...

Hi retired04 - glad to hear you're home safe and sound. I bet you're missing all the nice warm weather in SoCal!

hi, retired04: It's wonderful that you have come back to tell us that your trip was a success! That's wonderful news!

Can you tell us a bit more of your trip? I'm certain that many of us would like to know more.

Which hotel did you finally choose? How were the restaurants? Did you have any favorites?

Maybe a trip report?

I'm really happy for you that this trip turned out so well for you! :)

Yes..I promise to be back with more info..but right now..after collecting hugs from one of three kids..and 2 of 5 grandkids..we are having a glass of wine and looking at all of the stuff we have to put away...I can't believe that it all fit in that car!...

Welcome Back! And boy do you have great timing! The weather was so bad just last week and here we are with 60 degrees in NE Indiana tomorrow. I walked around in just a long sleeve shirt in Chicago Saturday.
Congratulations on completing the treatments. I know you'll be spreading the word on it to many who need it.

Retired, glad you are home safe and sound. You are not missing good weather in So CA right now as it is very cold and rainy and windy. It will be lots better when you come back in June. Enjoy seeing your family!!

Back here in SoCal..great results yesterday..DH's PSA is wayyyy down..better than expected! Now we can really enjoy the rest of our stay..we are in LL until tomorrow but aren't flying back to Michigan until the 12th..what to do? what to do? LOL! P.S. If you know anyone diagnosed with prostate cancer...please get the book "You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and you Don't Need Surgery to Do It" by Robert Marckini...No side effects..excellent cure rate and Loma Linda University Medical Center is awesome..