Game six - in which I'm on my back in a tunnel again
So now I'm getting ready for the beam to be turned on. Before each session I have to fast for several hours and drink lot's of water. I've had my initial introduction to the MR-Linac.
Image from: https://www.genesiscare.com/au/mrl-hcp/
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The picture shows the: 1.5 T MRI scanner (yellow); the magnetron and associated linear accelerator (black); joined by the white tube where the electrons are magnetically turned into the target apparatus, (black); where the gamma-ray photons are produced; and, near the MRI, the 'multileaf collimator'; where the photon beam is shaped before entering the patient. From the News Release: July 22, 2020 – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) announced today that the GenesisCare oncology centre at St. Vincent’s Hospital (Sydney, New South Wales) has started treating patients with Elekta Unity, a radiation therapy system that allows doctors to see a tumour's movements and its exact position during the delivery of therapeutic radiation. St. Vincent’s is the first site of 21 eventual Elekta Unity installations in GenesisCare’s global network to initiate clinical use of the system... |
I get the feeling that it's still a new toy. Everyone is committed; professional; and very careful. But then, that's been my experience on every hospital visit to date. "We have a very good healthcare system," I think to myself.
The first day I spent about an hour in the tunnel (or so it seemed) and was scanned a couple of times to get used to it then I went across to the CAT scanner where three tiny markers were tattooed above my prostate (in my pubic area) and on my hips (at the side) so that I can be repeatedly put in exactly the same position.
More fun - I don't mind a CAT scan - just another x-ray - child's play compared to a gamma beam.
The next session was a dry planning run of an actual treatment session with just the MRI. As it turned out, not so dry, thanks to all that water.
On my third day in the machine, after well over an hour of setup and planning, the 7 MeV gamma beam became active and cells began to die. Did I imagine a slight tingling or a twinge or two? Possibly. But it's quite loud with the simultaneous MRI so I can't be sure. It was certainly not painful.
The following day I was feeling slightly down emotionally and a little nauseous. Was it as a result of the radiation; or was it because it was raining and miserable, curtailing my usual morning walk? After my third treatment I was in no doubt. The radiation was certainly doing something! My bladder and bowels were a mess.
That's when this game suddenly became real.
My final treatment was on the last day of that 'annus horribilis' 2020. Although I wasn't feeling chipper I was able to drive to our friends' house and enjoy a fine meal and watch the fireworks on TV, to bring in the New Year, while hearing them boom outside. The next day wasn't so good. I didn't get out but on the 2nd January got up and walked to the shops (putting on my mask as is now required*).
| *COVID-19 hotspot
The latest COVID-19 outbreak originated around Newport on the northern beaches, thanks to someone recently arrived from the US (it's a US strain) successfully dodging quarantine. Aircrew who have less supervision, and have been trusted to isolate, are suspected. There are now reports of past aircrew breaches, occasioning several, thousand dollar, fines. Yet the cost of this breach will be in the tens of millions as clubs, pubs and cafés are closed and the entire northern beaches area is in lock-down, right before Christmas. Many people's Christmas celebrations in Sydney; and all interstate holiday travel; and New Year's eve fireworks watching; have been ruined. Trust in aircrew has abruptly ended. From now on they will be kept in guarded hotels like everyone else in quarantine. But it's shutting the stable gate after the colt has bolted. Let's hope he hasn't hasn't joined the wild bush horses already. Thanks to Middle Harbour, Mosman has not been affected by the full lockdown - just increased caution and no travel across the Spit bridge. While this has got the northern beaches under control there are now isolated cases elsewhere, including in Victoria (the same northern beaches/US strain) Updates to follow.
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It's 12 days since my last treatment. I walked down to the beach again and I'm almost back to normal. I suspect that I'm in better shape than I might have been under any of the other options. And its far more interesting.
So if any of my readers find that they have a prostate tumour I can recommend this treatment option if it's available to you. Remembering that every case is different.