Game On!

I had my first proton treatment today. Forty four to go.

I met early this afternoon with Dr. Bush and his resident, Dr. Kang. Dr. Bush reviewed my process so far including the bone scan that turned up some abnormality in the lower back which the MRI showed to be arthritis. He went on to repeat that the MRI also showed up some abnormality slightly higher (vertebra T-12). The radiologist team studied the MRI images and thought it could be bone cancer but were equivocal about it. Dr. Bush agreed it could be cancer, but said it was doubtful on several bases: the image doesn't have the characteristic features of bone cancer, my PSA is elevated, but not extremely so, my cancer's Gleason score is moderate, and the prostate cancer is early stage and appears to be confined to the gland.

Next Dr. Bush outlined the various options. The one I liked best was starting proton treatment of the prostate immediately and addressing the back issue later, likely after returning to Texas where my insurance would cover a larger portion of any treatment. Dr. Bush pointed out one problem with this approach: If the spine problem did turn out to be cancer, we might later regret taking this course of action since treating the prostate after the cancer had already spread would be like locking the barn after the horse had already escaped. While I understood this risk, beginning proton therapy immediately still seemed the best option. I asked to begin as soon as possible.

Dr. Bush sent me to the reception room to wait while his nurse/coordinator, Gail, talked to the technicians about getting me scheduled. She soon showed up and gave me two options: start this afternoon whenever the technicians could work me in, or start at 11:00 tomorrow morning. I said, "Let's get going," so she sent me down to check in for treatment. I had just finished my 3rd glass of water when a technician named Jesse came to take me in for treatment.

So things are under way. I'm very relieved. Tonight I'm worn out. It hasn't been that rough a day, and the weariness isn't from the treatment. I think I've been under even more stress than I was aware, and I think the exhaustion is hitting me now that things are settled and underway and also now that it's relatively clear that whatever this back and side pain may be, it's unlikely to be cancer. Thank God.

Lots of medical stuff in this post. What do you expect? After all, the blog is about cancer treatment.

Treatment count: 1 down; 44 to go.