Finally Finished with Salvage Radiation Today

A few random SRT thoughts/notes:

- Thankfully I had very limited side effects so far.
- Increased exercise, ice hockey with my boys, and actually swam laps (was reminded laps are hard!)

- Originally scheduled for 1.8 Gy for total of 66.6 Gy’s with no HT. My area / Doc’s seem slower to adopt aggressive treatment protocols…. but thanks to Tall Allen and other HW member’s informative posts, I had the confidence to ask for more Gy’s and pushed to start RT at 0.2. (Hard to buck the system)

- The Rad Doc already knew I did not like the number 66.6. He was hesitant to do more but thought I was doing well enough to go to 68 Gy. He did not want to go to 70 due to me having a partial colon resection that somehow enlarged the rectum into the bed area.

- After my partial colon surgery a part of my small intestine also dropped down blocking the radiation beams path to the treatment area. To eliminate this, I was on the table with a formed pad in the prone (face down, moon up) position on a Varian RapidArc Machine that did two rotations utilizing IMRT.

- Found morning treatments was easier to plan having a full bladder for treatments.
- I don’t recommend starting in Fall, if possible, because of many days off due to holidays and MLK day.
- I got my “Radiation Girls” a big box of chocolates and some cookies for the parking lot guys.

- When initially diagnosed in 2010 I told others I had PC. This time around I primarily told family. Generally people don’t understand this “good cancer” and I’m not going to take the time again re-explaining to people who only half listened the first time.

- I wish I could do more of something, I wish I didn’t have the partial colon resection, I wish there was an object, person, or persons that I could physically confront to settle this, I wish I noticed more successes on HW at less than 70 Gy’s, I wish I knew the future, I wish…..

This day has brought more mixed emotions than I expected…. I guess it’s all coming out of me now.
The 3-month wait for follow up testing has begun…..
Take the Day On! -Ken

Congrats! I too was very happy when SRT ended - I regret I did not get the girls a box of chocolates -

Bobby Mac

Good Deal !!! Nice to have it over ....and I know what you mean about the emotions ....carry on ....David

Ken,

Congratulations! My best wishes for a full response and cure. I'm meeting with my first RO next week to discuss ART coming up in the next several months for me. Posts from guys like you that offer experience and tips on the process are extraordinarily helpful for guys like me following behind you. Thank you for sharing.

Bill

Gear,

Congratulations!

I completed my SRT 13 months ago. I had 39 treatments of 1.8 grays (70.2 grays), which was a non-event for me with zero side effects during and after treatment. My treatment started in early November and ended on January 3, with a couple of days off for Thanksgiving and Christmas since the radiation center was closed down for the holidays.

From one Ken to another...CONGRATULATIONS, Gear.

Glad you had no side effects and hope you reach nadir and stay there for the rest of your life. Best wishes and thanks for posting your experience.

I started radiation in November, 2015 and got to spend Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas and New Year's in Houston (MD Anderson - we were staying in the motorhome.) A holiday season to never forget.