Nurse Consult Pre SBRT

Sounds like you're on track, Roger. Yep, they do tell us to stop lots of meds/herbals prior to and sometimes during treatment, but the whole thing is over so soon you won't notice the short-term loss.

As for the marker implant procedure, that was the most "memorable" part of the whole process for me. I had only a valium and some topical numbing gel to mask the pain. I spent the entire 10 minutes of the procedure telling bad jokes through my clenched teeth. Not fun, but for that short duration, I felt that I could handle almost anything. . . and I did. The planning scans and even the treatments themselves were non-issues for me.

Now, just over a year later, I'm not even sure I would recognize the doc who poked me "down there" if I passed him in the hallway. . .

BTW - Are you sure that all four 5's were in that deck before you started with it?

three 5's and a jack said...

It's kinda like waiting for Christmas when I was a kid.
Roger

In that case, We wish you a merry Christmas!

Thanks 19tarpon47 and Paxton the Christmas present I hope to open will come in March when I see the first significantly descending PSA numbers.

May all be well

Roger

0311: I see some up and down with your PSA#....Normal??

Yes I have read that bounces can be normal.....was just checking with you in that yours are normal.

Personally I am not much of a "worrier" so will be fine with the PSA waiting game.

Be well my friends. I will come back on after the placements and scans next week.

Roger

0311 - Dr. Ruffer is the same Doc who did my marker implant. He owes me big time, as his first "poke" missed the mark, so I actually had that darned needle poked into my nether regions three times for the two strings of implants. I managed to get through it with only the topical, because I told myself that after all the anxiety and fear I encountered in choosing my treatment, the implant procedure was the last unpleasant step between me and completion of my treatment. Neither the planning scans nor the treatments themselves were any real bother.

Roger - As 0311 said, many radiation patients experience PSA bounce as he has. So far, I have not, but I am experiencing another very common PSA result - that of a very slow, gentle decline in PSA over time. Mine started at 5.69 at diagnosis, 1 month post-treatment it was 4.75. Then at 4 months it was 3.03; 7 months, 2.86; 10 months, 2.15. Dr. Hirsch (the RO both 0311 and I have used) and I agree that in my case, we are perfectly happy with the results. Even if I take several years to reach nadir (to bottom out), as long as I do not see a reversal of the trend, we are pleased.

3-5s, this will be your x-mas present. SBRT done. Your choice was a good one,as we all make our own decisions as to treatment. Keep in touch. SemperFi,John