My SRT jouney has begun

Today was my first of 38 IMRT treatments.  I thought that I was well prepared, after following Mel's adventure.  I practiced in the morning to see how long 20oz of water would take to go through me, so I could time it right when I went for my treatment.  I had it down at 35 minutes twice gave me a full bladder, but not bursting.  My treatments are scheduled for 2:00, so I chugged most of my water at 1:30, and finished the last 3 oz or so in the parking lot.  When they came to get me in the waiting room right at two, and then set me on the table, I told the tech that I timed it perfectly.  They lined everything up, then went back to their little room, and came back out after five minutes and told me that the computer had to re-boot, and that I could go back to the waiting room.  They had me back in in ten minutes, but after getting re-alligned, I was at the point of being uncomfortably full in the bladder.  When the machine started to buzz, indicating I was getting radiated, I swear I could feel it.  It wasn't painful, but I could feel it.  This seemed to make the treatment feel much longer than it actually was.  Hopefully, tomorrow goes a little smoother.  I think I'll chug my water at 1:35 tomorrow to be safe.  Now, I'm off to do 9 holes and see if it improved my slice at all.

           Cheers,

                     Paul

Good luck, Paul, and getting that first one down.

Good luck Paul, that must be a funny, as in weird, feeling, just imagine the buzz as the sound of cancer cells being blasted away. The positive margin in this case is your friend. Im believing you know the rational for that , so won't explain. Just had a possible insight, in that the younger you are, your chances may be better in that it takes time for cells to get out of the local area. any studies done on this concept, I dinnah know! At my age even with organ confined I bet I have had pca in some form for 10 to 15 years. I doubt very much you have. I got lucky, I hope, in that from what I was told by uro who biopsied and surgeon who snatched it, thank you Doctor Dalkin, that the main tumor,while being in right apex, was a good distance from the edge. I was multi focal tho, who isn't. Whoever is unifocal is for sure, one of you young bucks, and thats the way it should be. don't let anyone tell you that luck isn't a factor. Ex: I was one who refused to do psa's due to its controversy. heck I was fit, strong, blah,blah. It was my cardiologist, didn't need one but hooked up with mine for future. Any time I did bloodwork he would ck psa box, I would erase it, he was persistent thru 3 cycles, finally, in deference to him, I ran it thru, bingo, 8.1.........

Paul:

It's nice to read that my adventure reports have been helpful.

Good luck. Are you doing the Varian Trilogy RapidArc machine?

I think you are smart getting the water in you well in advance of the tx. That was my mistake early on. The RO and staff never did specify a quantity and timing.

Keep us posted. I will certainly be reading your thread with interest!

Mel

Paul, I will be reading each of your threads as I do Mel's. This gives me quite an insight into what could be my next adventure. I will know more May 9th,next PSA test.

4 down, 33 to go.  After the first day, I have had no issues.  Timing the water intake right for a full bladder made a world of difference.  I have awaken in the middle of the night very thirsty, but I don't know that I can attribute that to the radiation.  I have gotten used to the routine of the treatment.  The first day, I was a little intimidated, and, although I knew what to expect, I really didn't.  I think lying on the table the first time as the machine was doing its thing, I realized the gravity of the situation that I am in.  It's almost like the surgery was strike one, and I'm taking my cut at the next pitch, but with a blindfold on.  Yes, the decision to do SRT was mine, but the results are out of my control.  I dislike not being in control of my destiny.   Anyhow, number 5 tomorrow.

                         Paul

Good luck, Paul.

Mel,
Yes, I am using the Varian Trilogy RapidArc Machine. I believe they are hitting me from 9 different positions. When coming from the side, I estimate it is about a 40 second zap. From straight above me, it seems more like a 20 second zap, and in between at the angles, between 25 and 35 seconds. I don't think that they have come from straight below my spine. Today was another uneventful day. 32 more to go.

Paul

Mel,
I thought maybe I was wrong about the equipment they are using with me, but I double checked today and asked the techs why mine goes in 9 diferent stations, and yours is a continuous pass. They said that my machine does do the continuous pass, but their physicists have not authorized that use yet at my facility. They said the biggest difference is the speed of the treatment using the continuous pass.
Paul

37 sessions with 66 total GY. No side effects so far. 30 more to go.
Paul

Uneventful is exactly what I want to hear!!!

Mel

Well, my RO is going to allow me to goback on the cayenne pepper and return to a more normal diet, which, for me, means salads for lunch. He said the complications from diverticulitis are much worse than potential diarrhea from the radiation. Today's treatment was uneventful again. Now, I need to get the diverticulitis under control.
Paul

Great news.

Mel