SBRT scheduled

So I finally settled on the Cyberknife treatment with Dr. Gottschalk at UCSF, and am scheduled for the gold markers placement on Feb 12, then the CT scan MRI and simulation on Feb 19. I expect to have the treatments the first week of March.

So far of course no major issues. In fact I feel quite calm, and am keen to get on with the treatments, and move on.

Had another PSA done since there was a standing order and it is up a bit from 5.9 to 6.1 (in 3 months) and the free PSA is down from 4% to 3%. Also had the results from the Prolaris genotype test; it came in at 3.0 (Consistent with average AUA Low Risk)

Thanks for all the posts people have made about their experiences. It seems there are slight variations in protocol. Mine will be 4 sessions only, 9.5gy each, a couple of days apart.

Hope it all goes well. I will say I am a fan of your doctor. I live in TX and found his email address and sent him a note asking questions before I landed on SRT. He actually took the time to respond to my note. That was over a year ago and I still remember it.

Rain, that's a smart choice after you did your due diligence. Good luck; I'm sure all will go well.

Jim

My PSA moved from 05 to 07 in three months. I will get radiation if it moves to 09.

rainwest and 0311 -

Wishing you both well! It's great that you are both on a similar timing and can compare notes and provide support.

rainwest,good for you. Did they give you any restrictions on physical activity with the gold markers ? Im thinking that not stirring up the prostate might be a good idea? I am on the same trail as you,so again good luck and keep it coming.

rainwest go easy on that hike,dont need you pissin out gold markers.Who did your 2nd opinion of your slides ? Have a great day today.

The Rule of 3s seems to apply here, as I get my fiducials on 2/26, followed by the MRI/CT on 3/4, and 5 CK treatments every other day here in St Louis starting 3/23. Rainwest and 0311, I'm hoping all continues to go smoothly and well for you.

0311, I did email with the StL SBRT guy on this forum. He did not opt for CK but had great results with a rival machine at Mercy Hospital as I recall.

I will be going with the Dr. David Morris and his team at St Louis Cyberknife. They appear to have the most experience in town, have a newer CK machine, and are just 10 minutes from my front door. When the treatment is over, I guess I'll throw away most of my 5" high stack of research.

This forum has been wonderful. And yes, let's stay in touch. My email is here somewhere, lol.

Good luck, y'all!
Mark

Thanks for the well wishes!

0311, the SBRT machine at Mercy is from Varian. The CK machine used at St Louis University is first generation from 2004 when it was initially used for other cancers. The machine I'll be "exposed" to at St Louis Cyberknife is 3rd generation. That said, Dr. Alan Katz, the renowned NYC CK expert, told me via phone consult that the age of the machine is much less important than the experience of the team using it.

I don't think IRIS is the name of the machine; it describes a type of collimator, a device used to vary the size of the photon beam.

Here's my doc's protocol. He'll be using 7.25 Gy per session every other day, with no rectal balloon. Low fiber diet begins 2 days before the first CK session, and I'll stay on that until treatment stops. One Fleet enema an hour before each treatment. Empty bladder upon arrival for each session, then immediately drink 8 oz of water.

He doesn't start Flowmax before the treatment starts, in case it's not needed. He didn't mention starting an ED drug before treatment, so it's presumably not a part of his protocol.