The machine that is treating me (Varian Edge) takes two revolutions to administer the fraction. They line you up with lasers and images before, track the fiducials during the rotation (and the machine automatically holds the beam if you and/or your prostate move out of acceptable parameters), and they re-image between fractions. Took a little longer than the previous three treatments because during the second rotation the machine saw my prostate was not within parameters and it stopped. Took a couple minutes to start again.....the machine had to move me 1/10 (0.1) millimeter.....wow THAT'S accuracy!
Went for a 2.5 mile walk after treatment, little headache and a little fatigue last night. Reduced urine stream at 4:00am (only got up once), this morning stream is fine. Just finished 45 minutes of dumbbells and abs, off to walk 18 holes this aft.
We'll see how I feel after my final treatment tomorrow.....will feel guilty ringing the bell, but I will get over it!
I will report in again in the next day or three.
Still no Orgovyx side effects (just started week #4)
Stay Strong Brothers!
Written by
ToolBeltZia
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I also had the Varian Edge for my treatments. It's truly amazing technology. My rad onc doc showed me the imaging it does and the AI that identifies all of the organs. For me, I recall #4 being the first time I started to feel the impact of the treatment and could feel that slight sunburn feeling of my prostate. Don't hesitate to ring that bell, I get that it's not the same as the 30+ treatments or long chemo sessions, but just because treatment is short doesn't mean you don't earn that right!
The technology of SBRT with the Edge is nothing short of amazing. I will gladly ring that bell, but I will be thinking of all the souls with all kinds of cancers that endured and are enduring much more than me.
Fun questions to ask the IMRT "Beam Team". 1, where is my e-stop button? Ans: you don't get one. Just raise your hand. 2, why aren't you wearing dosimetry badges? Ans: We leave the room, and the beam is very focused. 3, where does the beam go after it passes through my body? Ans: didn't know. (Found out the room has very thick lead-shielded walls)
Funny how we approach things differently and attach different meaning to milestone. I thanked everybody and left. No bell ringing after the last radiation. In my mind that was just the next step in a process.
Interesting - IG/IMRT on the Varian Edge sounds no different (except the number of treatments and the time/dose for each one..) Alignment scan, then treatment scan. For IG/IMRT, less than 5 minutes on the table.
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Just finished my SBRT treatment at MSKCC
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