Treatment with SBRT - Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy started
I had my first two SBRT completed. I laid in my mold and got positioned " just right". They used the marks on my body to line me up. I had my arms raised above my head. They put the brace on my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. They put the rubber band in my feet again. I had to lie still. At least they never told me " breathe normal".
They did scans first and had the doctor check my positioning. Then they gave me the radiation. During the scans and during the radiation the machine moved around to the sides and over me multiple times. It is called a " trilogy" machine. This is the same type of machine that did my pelvic radiation. I don't know if other radiation machines move like this type does. The whole thing lasted about 40 minutes.
i then saw the doctor. I asked him about radiation burns, he said probably not. He thought the only side effect I might have would be fatigue. while I was waiting in the women's waiting room there was a lady who was getting radiation to her neck. She said she could not taste anything. I asked if my taste would be affected. The doctor said no that the lymph node is down lower.
I asked about follow up since we want to leave for Florida around Nov 1 st. He said he would like CAT scans done every 3 months to see how this lymph node responds to the radiation, and see what any other lymph nodes do. He is fine with me having the CAT scans done in Florida and sending the report to him. He said Moffitt Cancer Center ( where I go) does the SBRT so they will be able to follow the progress. At my consultation he said it may be three to six months before there is any noticeable change.
I asked him if he thought my marker would go up due to the radiation. He said he did not know. He said they have never treated anyone with endometrial cancer by treating this area. He had told me it was rare for the Cancer to go this area. He said in the long run the marker should go down. So it will be interesting to see what happens with the marker....and the CAT scan.
Today I had the second treatment. Not as many scans today. The procedure was about 30 minutes. No discomfort with any of it. I feel no different than I did before the treatments. I will see the doctor on Wednesdays. Whenever I ask the technicians a question......you will have to ask the doctor.
So I have two down and eight to go. I'll keep you updated. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.
Comments
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Gladd all's going well, Ro
Sounds like it's running pretty smoothly, Ro. Just eight to go and then those little rays can really get to work zapping the pesky node! I know what you mean about asking the technician's anything - it the same over here in the UK - they always refer you to the Dr!
Hope the rest of the sessions go smoothly for you
Kindest wishes
Helen0 -
Ro, it's doable!HellieC said:Gladd all's going well, Ro
Sounds like it's running pretty smoothly, Ro. Just eight to go and then those little rays can really get to work zapping the pesky node! I know what you mean about asking the technician's anything - it the same over here in the UK - they always refer you to the Dr!
Hope the rest of the sessions go smoothly for you
Kindest wishes
HelenRo, this is good news. it amazes me that you basically never have symptoms! As the weather is now turning cold in the Chicago area, you are probably looking forward to your return to Florida. It is still raining almost every day here but the mornings and evenings are beginning to cool off a little. I have relatives in Chicago and close friends in Michigan City, IN, where I lived and worked for many years. The town is only an hour southeast of Chicago. I receive frequent updates on the weather there. Hope your Tx continues to go well for you. My biggest complaint about cancer is that Tx is so time consuming. It's a full-time job!
Warm Wishes,
Cathy
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Great report! So glad to hearKaleena said:Hugs!
Oh Ro!
So happy that it is going smoothly for you and that the second treatment didn't have any discomfort with it and the procedure is only 30 minutes. I have been praying for you and will continue to do so.
My best to you!
Kathy
Great report! So glad to hear things are proceeding smoothly. It sounds as if you're in very good hands.
Sending more prayers for the best for you!
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He said, "they have never
He said, "they have never treated anyone with endometrial cancer" - WOW!!! Truly "cutting" edge for you and them!
Continued prayers for you Ro. I love your spirit and you inspire me!
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Ro, good newsNoTimeForCancer said:He said, "they have never
He said, "they have never treated anyone with endometrial cancer" - WOW!!! Truly "cutting" edge for you and them!
Continued prayers for you Ro. I love your spirit and you inspire me!
No discomfort treatment, that is wonderful! I sure hope this brings your CA125 down.
Enjoy Florida!
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RoSisters three said:Ro, good news
No discomfort treatment, that is wonderful! I sure hope this brings your CA125 down.
Enjoy Florida!
Thanks for taking us with you.
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Half way through.....yeah!nempark said:Ro!! such an inspiration for us all
Ro, you are a fighter!!!Hang in there my love. I think of all of the ladies on this board. you all are wonderfully made and we are all so strong. Good health to all of you.
Today I had treatment number 5.....,,5 more to go. I feel no different than before the treatments started. The procedures are about 30 minutes. They do scans each day before I get the radiation. It is the same procedure each day. I lay in my mold,I put my arms over my head. They put the rubber band over my feet. Yesterday I saw the rubber band, and it is actually just abig rubber band. I thought it might be something more elaborate but it's not. Then they up the brace over my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. they put on my choice of music from Pandora, and I lay still until the treatment is done.
I saw the doctor today. He asked if I had any trouble swallowing, and I said no. He said that was good. I asked him if the same area could be treated if needed later. He said he has never had to treat the same area again.
i asked how much radiation I was getting compared to a CT of the chest,abd, and pelvis. I was not prepared for his answer. I knew it was intense radiation. He said it was about 1000 times the radiation of a CAT scan. there was a physicist with the doctor he gave a number of 0.01 something for a CAT scan and the doctor said I was getting 6.5 something else, or about 1000 times as much radiation. WOW.
He said it was like 10 lazers from different directions all pointed at the same point and where the brightest light is is where the radiation goes. The rest of the area is dark. Very targeted.
He told me I could get lung scarring from this treatment. He never told me that before. He said it would affect my trachea but he did not say how. So we will see what happens.
I will be glad when the treatments are over though. We are staying with my sister and brother in law. They are about 45 minutes from the hospital. We are very welcome here, but it's not like home. We will go home again Friday and come back Monday.
Hope you are all doing well.
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Hang on in there, RoRo10 said:Half way through.....yeah!
Today I had treatment number 5.....,,5 more to go. I feel no different than before the treatments started. The procedures are about 30 minutes. They do scans each day before I get the radiation. It is the same procedure each day. I lay in my mold,I put my arms over my head. They put the rubber band over my feet. Yesterday I saw the rubber band, and it is actually just abig rubber band. I thought it might be something more elaborate but it's not. Then they up the brace over my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. they put on my choice of music from Pandora, and I lay still until the treatment is done.
I saw the doctor today. He asked if I had any trouble swallowing, and I said no. He said that was good. I asked him if the same area could be treated if needed later. He said he has never had to treat the same area again.
i asked how much radiation I was getting compared to a CT of the chest,abd, and pelvis. I was not prepared for his answer. I knew it was intense radiation. He said it was about 1000 times the radiation of a CAT scan. there was a physicist with the doctor he gave a number of 0.01 something for a CAT scan and the doctor said I was getting 6.5 something else, or about 1000 times as much radiation. WOW.
He said it was like 10 lazers from different directions all pointed at the same point and where the brightest light is is where the radiation goes. The rest of the area is dark. Very targeted.
He told me I could get lung scarring from this treatment. He never told me that before. He said it would affect my trachea but he did not say how. So we will see what happens.
I will be glad when the treatments are over though. We are staying with my sister and brother in law. They are about 45 minutes from the hospital. We are very welcome here, but it's not like home. We will go home again Friday and come back Monday.
Hope you are all doing well.
Hang on in there, Ro. It will soon be over. It's very strange, isn't it, to be receiving a treatment which you can't feel? I hope that the collateral damage to lungs and/or trachea doesn't occur. It's frightening when they tell you these things, but we need to hold the thought that they have to tell us, even if the chances of it happening are pretty remote. I am sure you will be so relieved when the treatment is over and you can get back to the comforts of home.
Wishing you well for the remainder of the treatment.
Kindest wishes
Helen xx0 -
Thanks for posting, Ro!Ro10 said:Half way through.....yeah!
Today I had treatment number 5.....,,5 more to go. I feel no different than before the treatments started. The procedures are about 30 minutes. They do scans each day before I get the radiation. It is the same procedure each day. I lay in my mold,I put my arms over my head. They put the rubber band over my feet. Yesterday I saw the rubber band, and it is actually just abig rubber band. I thought it might be something more elaborate but it's not. Then they up the brace over my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. they put on my choice of music from Pandora, and I lay still until the treatment is done.
I saw the doctor today. He asked if I had any trouble swallowing, and I said no. He said that was good. I asked him if the same area could be treated if needed later. He said he has never had to treat the same area again.
i asked how much radiation I was getting compared to a CT of the chest,abd, and pelvis. I was not prepared for his answer. I knew it was intense radiation. He said it was about 1000 times the radiation of a CAT scan. there was a physicist with the doctor he gave a number of 0.01 something for a CAT scan and the doctor said I was getting 6.5 something else, or about 1000 times as much radiation. WOW.
He said it was like 10 lazers from different directions all pointed at the same point and where the brightest light is is where the radiation goes. The rest of the area is dark. Very targeted.
He told me I could get lung scarring from this treatment. He never told me that before. He said it would affect my trachea but he did not say how. So we will see what happens.
I will be glad when the treatments are over though. We are staying with my sister and brother in law. They are about 45 minutes from the hospital. We are very welcome here, but it's not like home. We will go home again Friday and come back Monday.
Hope you are all doing well.
Ro,
I am so glad you are halfway through and that you don't feel anything different from before you started. I will continue to pray for you and that you stay well. Thanks for checking in!
My best to you.
Kathy
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Glad you doing wellRo10 said:Half way through.....yeah!
Today I had treatment number 5.....,,5 more to go. I feel no different than before the treatments started. The procedures are about 30 minutes. They do scans each day before I get the radiation. It is the same procedure each day. I lay in my mold,I put my arms over my head. They put the rubber band over my feet. Yesterday I saw the rubber band, and it is actually just abig rubber band. I thought it might be something more elaborate but it's not. Then they up the brace over my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. they put on my choice of music from Pandora, and I lay still until the treatment is done.
I saw the doctor today. He asked if I had any trouble swallowing, and I said no. He said that was good. I asked him if the same area could be treated if needed later. He said he has never had to treat the same area again.
i asked how much radiation I was getting compared to a CT of the chest,abd, and pelvis. I was not prepared for his answer. I knew it was intense radiation. He said it was about 1000 times the radiation of a CAT scan. there was a physicist with the doctor he gave a number of 0.01 something for a CAT scan and the doctor said I was getting 6.5 something else, or about 1000 times as much radiation. WOW.
He said it was like 10 lazers from different directions all pointed at the same point and where the brightest light is is where the radiation goes. The rest of the area is dark. Very targeted.
He told me I could get lung scarring from this treatment. He never told me that before. He said it would affect my trachea but he did not say how. So we will see what happens.
I will be glad when the treatments are over though. We are staying with my sister and brother in law. They are about 45 minutes from the hospital. We are very welcome here, but it's not like home. We will go home again Friday and come back Monday.
Hope you are all doing well.
Ro, are your treatments going to to done before nov, when you leave for Florida. i wish you well and hope that the radiation does it's job, and you have the least amount of side effects if any. Eat well and get plenty of rest.
im still not over this gastritis, but I realize it takes a long time to heal.
my prayers will be with you.
Irene
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ThanksRo10 said:Half way through.....yeah!
Today I had treatment number 5.....,,5 more to go. I feel no different than before the treatments started. The procedures are about 30 minutes. They do scans each day before I get the radiation. It is the same procedure each day. I lay in my mold,I put my arms over my head. They put the rubber band over my feet. Yesterday I saw the rubber band, and it is actually just abig rubber band. I thought it might be something more elaborate but it's not. Then they up the brace over my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. they put on my choice of music from Pandora, and I lay still until the treatment is done.
I saw the doctor today. He asked if I had any trouble swallowing, and I said no. He said that was good. I asked him if the same area could be treated if needed later. He said he has never had to treat the same area again.
i asked how much radiation I was getting compared to a CT of the chest,abd, and pelvis. I was not prepared for his answer. I knew it was intense radiation. He said it was about 1000 times the radiation of a CAT scan. there was a physicist with the doctor he gave a number of 0.01 something for a CAT scan and the doctor said I was getting 6.5 something else, or about 1000 times as much radiation. WOW.
He said it was like 10 lazers from different directions all pointed at the same point and where the brightest light is is where the radiation goes. The rest of the area is dark. Very targeted.
He told me I could get lung scarring from this treatment. He never told me that before. He said it would affect my trachea but he did not say how. So we will see what happens.
I will be glad when the treatments are over though. We are staying with my sister and brother in law. They are about 45 minutes from the hospital. We are very welcome here, but it's not like home. We will go home again Friday and come back Monday.
Hope you are all doing well.
Ro Your description helps to curb my run-away imagination. we are rowing for you .Thanks and stay brave.
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You are such an inspiration,Ro10 said:Half way through.....yeah!
Today I had treatment number 5.....,,5 more to go. I feel no different than before the treatments started. The procedures are about 30 minutes. They do scans each day before I get the radiation. It is the same procedure each day. I lay in my mold,I put my arms over my head. They put the rubber band over my feet. Yesterday I saw the rubber band, and it is actually just abig rubber band. I thought it might be something more elaborate but it's not. Then they up the brace over my stomach to keep the diaphragm from moving too much. they put on my choice of music from Pandora, and I lay still until the treatment is done.
I saw the doctor today. He asked if I had any trouble swallowing, and I said no. He said that was good. I asked him if the same area could be treated if needed later. He said he has never had to treat the same area again.
i asked how much radiation I was getting compared to a CT of the chest,abd, and pelvis. I was not prepared for his answer. I knew it was intense radiation. He said it was about 1000 times the radiation of a CAT scan. there was a physicist with the doctor he gave a number of 0.01 something for a CAT scan and the doctor said I was getting 6.5 something else, or about 1000 times as much radiation. WOW.
He said it was like 10 lazers from different directions all pointed at the same point and where the brightest light is is where the radiation goes. The rest of the area is dark. Very targeted.
He told me I could get lung scarring from this treatment. He never told me that before. He said it would affect my trachea but he did not say how. So we will see what happens.
I will be glad when the treatments are over though. We are staying with my sister and brother in law. They are about 45 minutes from the hospital. We are very welcome here, but it's not like home. We will go home again Friday and come back Monday.
Hope you are all doing well.
You are such an inspiration, Ro!
The treatment is fascinating and terrifying to me. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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I completed my 10 SBRT treatmentsTAyers said:Thanks
Ro,
Thanks for letting us in on your treatments, it helps to pave the way for someone else if they may need it. You are a brave, strong, woman. I always watch for you because we have identical diagnosis. Keep up the Fight!!!
Tami
They all went well. No pain, no side effects. It will be three months before we know whether it took care of the lymph node. I thought the node would shrink or get smaller, but it will always be there. It just won't grow anymore. I thought the concept of "cyber knife" would be like removing the node.
i do have a sinus infection and cough, so laying flat onthe table was a problem onMonday. I had to cough several times,but not when the radiation treatment was being delivered. My cough is better, but I still have it. I started antibiotics on Monday. I am tired, but coughing has kept me up at night. And the cough syrup with codeine makes me tired, too.
So they destroyed my mold after the last treatment. Now I will have a CAT scan every three months until results are seen. I will not follow up with this radiation onocologist, but just send him CAT scan results. He said several times that I am "different" and CA-125 has always been a true marker for me, so that is what to follow.
Thanks for all the thoughts and comments as we wait for results. Hope you are all doing well.
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What a first hand education, RoRo10 said:I completed my 10 SBRT treatments
They all went well. No pain, no side effects. It will be three months before we know whether it took care of the lymph node. I thought the node would shrink or get smaller, but it will always be there. It just won't grow anymore. I thought the concept of "cyber knife" would be like removing the node.
i do have a sinus infection and cough, so laying flat onthe table was a problem onMonday. I had to cough several times,but not when the radiation treatment was being delivered. My cough is better, but I still have it. I started antibiotics on Monday. I am tired, but coughing has kept me up at night. And the cough syrup with codeine makes me tired, too.
So they destroyed my mold after the last treatment. Now I will have a CAT scan every three months until results are seen. I will not follow up with this radiation onocologist, but just send him CAT scan results. He said several times that I am "different" and CA-125 has always been a true marker for me, so that is what to follow.
Thanks for all the thoughts and comments as we wait for results. Hope you are all doing well.
Thank you so much. The knowledge you and Helen have shared is invaluable. I assumed the node would go away. Interesting.
My fingers are crossed that this all works just the way it's supposed to. Here's hoping the cough clears up soon but I've heard what's going around now is pretty persistent. Nagging coughs are so annoying. I know sugar is a no, no but a mixture of honey and cider vinegar, esp at night, works much better for me than codeine.
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You're such a trooper! GladRo10 said:I completed my 10 SBRT treatments
They all went well. No pain, no side effects. It will be three months before we know whether it took care of the lymph node. I thought the node would shrink or get smaller, but it will always be there. It just won't grow anymore. I thought the concept of "cyber knife" would be like removing the node.
i do have a sinus infection and cough, so laying flat onthe table was a problem onMonday. I had to cough several times,but not when the radiation treatment was being delivered. My cough is better, but I still have it. I started antibiotics on Monday. I am tired, but coughing has kept me up at night. And the cough syrup with codeine makes me tired, too.
So they destroyed my mold after the last treatment. Now I will have a CAT scan every three months until results are seen. I will not follow up with this radiation onocologist, but just send him CAT scan results. He said several times that I am "different" and CA-125 has always been a true marker for me, so that is what to follow.
Thanks for all the thoughts and comments as we wait for results. Hope you are all doing well.
You're such a trooper! Glad to hear your treatments are over. Good luck and I hope you hear good news soon.
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