HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Radiation information

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/1/2015 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I have made some comments here, but this is a new one, had 37 Radiation treatments ending on Sept 8.
Before each beam there is an xray taken, when this happens are they looking at cancer cells (prostate bed), to beam in on or just to line you up for beam treatments, am never told anything by the radiation personnel when under treatments, curious if cells can be seen with those xrays, or is this a hit and miss...lol... Had linier external beams, supposed to be most up to date system....thanks for any answers......
Posted 12/1/2015 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
To my knowledge, the initial X-Ray is strictly for positioning/accurate targeting
Posted 12/1/2015 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
The X-rays are for image guidance. You had salvage radiation, so they either put in fiducials, Calypso, or are using soft tissue landmarks to align the beams. That helps assure that the beams don't miss the prostate bed. Beams that "miss" can hit the bladder, rectum, penile bulb, etc. - places you wouldn't want a lot of X-rays to go. They can't "see" the cancer with X-rays.

- Allen
Posted 12/1/2015 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Tall, thanks, they never tell you anything during treatments, jut cook you....lol
Posted 12/1/2015 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
You should feel comfortable asking them - that's how one learns. My experience has been that they're proud of the work they do and the equipment, and are happy to talk about it.
Posted 12/1/2015 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
I am half way through my treatments and got the opportunity to watch the process. For me I had 3 little tattoos which they use to get me lined up with the machine. Next they use the conebeam CT (CBCT) to accurately position the prostate bed target within the planned target area. They can make some adjustments depending on how full your bladder might be, and the position of your colon depending if it is full or empty.
You should feel the bed move left to right and forward to backwards to precisely position the target area. Once done then the radiation starts.

The process is fairly automated except for tweaking the target area which the radiation technician performs. They have several computer monitors, to watch the process during the entire process.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply