This past Tuesday (9/22) I met Dr. David Bush, who will be overseeing my treatment, and his nurse, Gail. Also his resident Dr. Kang. They reviewed my records and the doctors did the traditional DRE (Digital Rectal Exam, for any very young males or females of any age who may not be familiar with the procedure). Dr. Bush has big fingers. Dr. Kang has nice, slender ones. (What's a good operation story without a few gory details?) Dr. Bush then went over the various possible ways to treat my cancer and, as expected, recommended proton radiation, which he went over in detail. I agreed with his advice. After all, I traveled 1000 miles to get this treatment, so duh!
Dr. Bush ordered a bone scan to check on my back pain (more about the back pain in a later post), and then they scheduled my pod building and CAT scan for the next day.
The Pod: This is a device that starts out as a 6 1/2 foot long section of PVC pipe about 16 inches in diameter that's been sliced in half lengthwise and then had its ends sealed. The techs had me lie down in this pipe and then poured foam insulation in from my waist to the soles of my feet until it was deep enough to come about half way up my legs. It got nice and warm. After it was set, I got out of it, and there was my pod. It will ensure that my body is in exactly the same position every time I enter the proton machine.
The Balloon: Next came the CAT scan that will be used by the computer to direct the proton beam so that it precisely targets my prostate every time.
But there was some prep. Dum dee dum dum!
When I had arrived, about half an hour before my pod building, I had been directed to drink 3 glasses of water. The aim was to fill my bladder so that it would exert a bit of pressure on the prostate and keep it stable, since the eager little gland tends to squirm around some. Now, 45 minutes later, my new pod was positioned to enter the CAT scan machine, and I got in again. But before my pod and I entered the machine, I met The Balloon. The techs inserted a balloon in my rectum and then filled it with water. Oh, yes. Many are the jokes about The Balloon in the proton community. In fact, the support group is called BOB—Brotherhood of the Balloon. The balloon serves two purposes: It keeps most of the rectum out of the line of fire of the proton beam, and along with the full bladder, it helps keep the prostate in the same location for all treatments. Well, I've had 3 biopsies (Want to hear about that experience? It involves a baton fitted with spring-loaded needles.) and innumerable DREs, and by comparison the balloon was scarcely noticeable. Good thing, because every one of my 45 treatments will involve 3 glasses of water and a balloon.
After all that excitement, I don't really remember the CAT scan. I guess they did it. I got dressed and reported to Level A where they gave me my start date: Wednesday, 9/30, at 4:00 in unit G3. I left.
I should have shot a picture of the pod. Will do so in the future. I'll have lots of opportunities. No, I'm not gonna share a picture of the balloon, so just forget it.
This entry has focussed on technicalities, but there were lots of people involved—receptionists, doctors, a nurse, technicians, and other patients in various stages of their own treatment. Everyone was supportive, sensitive, good humored, clearly interested in me not only as a subject but also as a person. That motto—To Make Man Whole—seems to be written not only on their logo but also to be inscribed in their hearts. I can't imagine being in better hands.
It's so hard to write a comment on blogspot. I'm sure people aren't leaving comments because of this.
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