Posted 10/8/2011 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Week#8 Proton Therapy Report from IU @ Bloomington:
I have now completed 36 treatments with only 8 remaining. I am getting excited about the end finally coming in view. To be sure, Bloomington is a beautiful place, especially in the fall, and the folks at the Proton Therapy Center could not be nicer, but after 9+ weeks away from home (except for the occasional weekend) it will be nice to get home once again.
On the issue of side effects during treatment, I continue to have some urinary burning and urgency, but nothing that is not unduly bearable. Flomax continues to give me relief, especially when starting to urinate. This past week I had a little bout of rectal spasms but imodium gave temporary relief and now it seems to be going away on its own. My docs tell me these side effects should dissipate quickly once treatment is completed. Otherwise I feel fine and continue to work out daily.
I was given an opportunity to take a "back room" tour of the facility and was amazed at the precision and quality control that goes into the formation of the treatment program for each patient. Each aperture, lens and diffuser made for each patient is tested to be sure it will actually do what it is supposed to. The beam and the transmission equipment are checked and rechecked each day before treatments start. And, as I stated last week, a radiation oncologist is present during each treatment and makes the final call on alignment. I cannot say enough good things about the IU Health Proton Therapy Center.
Nothing that I have experienced so far has in anyway caused me to have second thoughts about my treatment decision. Naturally time will time if it was the right one for me or not, but for now I am quite pleased with my decision to go proton and especially to have selected IU Health as the center for treatment.
Steve