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IMRT Update: 13 down...13 to go!

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Posted 8/4/2018 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Reached the halfway point of my IMRT with 13 treatments down and 13 to go! As Andrew "In the Shop" has said..."this is a marathon"! I drive over an hour there and get caught in rush hour traffic on the way home (over 2 hours). So, the word MARATHON is applicable!

On too the good news....I have little to no SE!! No urinary, rectal, or ED issues! I feel pretty good and I am not really that tired either. I know this can change in heartbeat (SE) even months after the treatment is over, but for now I am taking it and very happy for the moment!

I also want to give a shout out to my lovely wife who makes the trip with me everyday and is my rock! We sometimes give our spouse some credit on here, but maybe not enough! It is a lot easier going though this process with a strong support system who care, love you, and support you 100%! We all need a shoulder to cry on every once and a while! Well, enough babbling just wanted to give an update! yeah
Posted 8/4/2018 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
dbell, that sounds great. Hopefully the rest of your journey will be as uneventful.

And you are so right about the wives/partners. They really can be SO helpful to each of us. Prostate cancer is so often deeply personal and problematic so an understanding and supportive partner is invaluable.

Jim
Posted 8/4/2018 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jim....yes our wives are the unsung heroes in many cases and the glue that holds us all together! yeah
Posted 8/4/2018 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully the SE continue to be non existent!! I've got 9 sessions down of 36 for adjuvant radiation. My wife has been my rock as well! Good luck!!!
Posted 8/4/2018 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Great progress - keep it going, you're almost there.

Andrew
Posted 8/4/2018 2:36 PM (GMT 0)

InTheShop said...
Great progress - keep it going, you're almost there.

Andrew

Thanks Busted and Andrew! Hopefully, your journeys will be non-eventful as well!?!
Posted 8/4/2018 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Dbell, thanks for posting that and great news on no side effects. I hope for you that it continues that way.
Posted 8/4/2018 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Prat......you moderators and most members on the board here are part of my extended family! LOL! yeah tongue
Posted 8/5/2018 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Good going. You're an inspiration. I've completed 4 of 15. HDR brachy after that. 5 minutes for external beam and so far uneventful. Keep on truckin'

Post Edited (Steve Smith) : 8/4/2018 6:54:18 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/5/2018 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Great report. Keep on trucking.

Stave, glad to see you have started treatment. Where are you getting treated?
Posted 8/5/2018 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations on reaching the halfway point. As a rollercoaster analogy, you've crested the hill. I'm guessing with 26 Tx you are getting hypofractionated RT, which would have a higher dose per Tx... so it's great that you have been free of SE's so far.

Still, it is an additional stress, if nothing else, a commitment to be somewhere on time every day and maybe then have to wait, and fight more traffic. Having your rock steady wife with you I'm sure makes a big difference. Good luck with your remaining treatments. It's all downhill from here!
Posted 8/5/2018 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
^^ What those guys said! ^^ My wife was a huge support during my journey but it's a really difficult time for them as well.

My RO originally scheduled me for 35 sessions so I was marking the sessions off my schedule every day - had a very pleasant surprise when she casually mentioned at one of our weekly follow-ups it was 33 sessions. Whoo-hoo!

I had the "good" luck to spend Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas and New Year in Houston while getting nuked.
Posted 8/5/2018 1:28 PM (GMT 0)

John_TX said...
I had the "good" luck to spend Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas and New Year in Houston while getting nuked.


Hopefully that was not during hurricane Harvey. I had the "good" luck to have hurricane Irma blow thru midway thru my IMRT. The RO's team booked an extra treatment over the weekend just before the storm came thru and knocked out the power, then made up missed Tx's after the end. Summer in Florida without A/C is miserable, but ultimately it was just another tale to tell. Also got to experience a total solar eclipse during my RT. It was an eventful two months for sure!
Posted 8/5/2018 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the encouragement! All you guys have made this whole experience a little easier to swallow! Like Roblee said...I am at the top of the mountain and its all down hill from here (paraphrasing)! I keep thinking positive thoughts and try to surround myself with positive energy! Good luck to all and godspeed! yeah
Posted 8/5/2018 4:52 PM (GMT 0)

RobLee said...
I'm guessing with 26 Tx you are getting hypofractionated RT, which would have a higher dose per Tx... so it's great that you have been free of SE's so far.

My RO at MSKCC said... they no longer do 44 treatments and that 26 is the max. I think it is hypofractional RT but nothing like SBRT! I see the SBRT guys all the time and although they only have 5 treatments...it is no picnic! They have to drink a bunch (I do not have drink at all) and get sent back to drink more because their bladder is not full. Their RT is also 45 min. to an hour and my treatment takes like 10 minutes after set up! Trust me rather have the SBRT though! yeah
Posted 8/5/2018 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Dbell, who is your RO at MSKCC? I know you are doing radiation for primary, I assume that’s for primary only because my RO at MSKCC is planning 40 fractions. But I am doing salvage
Posted 8/5/2018 5:13 PM (GMT 0)

Pratoman said...
Dbell, who is your RO at MSKCC? I know you are doing radiation for primary, I assume that’s for primary only because my RO at MSKCC is planning 40 fractions. But I am doing salvage

I am doing primary and I am at MSKCC in Basking Ridge, N.J..... Dr. Gorovets - RO. He is at NY 4+ days a week as well! yeah
Posted 8/5/2018 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
.thanks dbell. I’m sure it’s 26 fractions for primary only if not it would have been offered to me.

Good luck on the last 13
Posted 8/5/2018 6:10 PM (GMT 0)

Pratoman said...
.thanks dbell. I’m sure it’s 26 fractions for primary only if not it would have been offered to me.

Good luck on the last 13

I would assume so, Pratman! Good luck to you as well! Think positive! yeah
Posted 8/5/2018 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Glad it's going so well. I used to wonder if they were actually doing anything or it if they just had me get into this machine and it all was a big hoax. Good luck on your next baker's dozen of sessions!
Posted 8/5/2018 9:14 PM (GMT 0)

Hello DBELL ~

We'll all help you COUNTDOWN to the final treatment ...

This past spring, I completed 44 radiation treatments ... nine weeks ... those weekends are important, aren't they, for resting and relaxing!

Here's to knocking out the rest of those treatments, DBELL!

My best,
CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University
Posted 8/6/2018 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again everyone who has responded with support! You guys are a HUGE help to me and others in the club no one wanted to join!!! yeah

It will be a sweet victory with a twist because the end of my treatment will also be the end of the summer...a time of year I usually enjoy immensely!! Dave
Posted 8/6/2018 1:41 PM (GMT 0)

dbell said...
... 26 is the max. I think it is hypofractional RT but nothing like SBRT! I see the SBRT guys all the time and although they only have 5 treatments...it is no picnic!

26 (or 13 more) Tx at ten minutes, with no fluid requirements and no SE's... You've got this!
Posted 8/6/2018 1:52 PM (GMT 0)

RobLee said...

dbell said...
... 26 is the max. I think it is hypofractional RT but nothing like SBRT! I see the SBRT guys all the time and although they only have 5 treatments...it is no picnic!

26 (or 13 more) Tx at ten minutes, with no fluid requirements and no SE's... You've got this!

Yea, we are all good right now! I consider myself blessed and maybe a little lucky (at the moment)! Have to keep chopping away days, weeks etc. Hopefully, a non-eventful 13 more! Thanks RobLee! yeah
Posted 8/6/2018 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
I found the last 13 days to be as boring and uneventful as the first 13.

May your life be as boring ...

Andrew
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