Beads and balloons, oh boy!

[Atdabeach]

No, not Mardi Gras, but my upcoming PCa proton treatments. I'm going in next week for placement of fiducials (gold beads), and just found out that instead of SpaceOar, I'll be having a rectal balloon inserted for each of my treatments. I think I understand enough about the fiducials, but can anyone share their experience with the balloons? All I've seen online so far is that they help with consistent positioning and somehow reduce damage to the rectum from the radiation. All sounds good, but I'd like to hear from the patient's perspective. Thanks in advance!

[Tall_Allen]

it holds the prostate in place and lifts most of the rectum away from the prostate (only a small amount of the rectum gets pressed into the prostate).

[Hidden]

Pioneered by Dr Brian Butler at Baylor College of Medicine. He used that technique on me in 2004 for 25 sessions of IMRT. Balloon filled with saline. Gastroenterologist remarked, “only very light scarring on the left side of my colon. Remarkable.” He had never seen so little scarring from IMRT. Good call.

Gourd Dancer

[wilcoxsaw]

I've had 45 balloons, no big deal. Only one I remember well was when a good looking female tech told me to roll to my side and said " what a way to meet" as she inserted the balloon.

I've also had several colonoscopies since and the gastro doc said there was very little or no evidence of any radiation damage on the rectum from the proton therapy. I have had zero GI issues in the past 10 years after having had 45 proton treatments.

You should be fine. If you haven't already done so be sure to join the Brotherhood of the balloon!

Scott

[Tonwantonga]

Good luck with the fiducials. i don't know what i was expecting when i went for mine, but it wasn't the gyno chair . i did think my (female) RO seemed a bit overzealous with the anal probe insertion, but now i feel i am three tiny gold bits more valuable than i used to be. the three new 'free' tattoos i got with the procedure are a real bonus as well.

[cancerfox]

Interesting. Can you use these balloons to lighten things up? I wish I had done balloons for IMRT instead of having these bowel issues I have now. 🦊

Balloons