Cyberknife Diary

Old Salt said:

Not so odd

I was also 'put away' for the fiducial placement (2013). Could it be that there are two ways of doing this procedure?

It strikes me as doctor preference.  As above I was fortunate to talk to two different Cyberknife doctors.  The other doctor did the placement more like a regular biopsy.  My doctor pretty much said the way he does it is his preference and if my memory serves me said something to the effect that he wanted everythng absolutely still for precise placement.     

graybeard said:

Fiducials

Fiducials. Ah yes. I remember them (4) well. Much faster than the biopsy and less mental stress. I don't care for the probing of my body openings. After placement (1/18/17) there was a wait period for the fiducials to be incapsulated by the prostate. On 2/06/17 The CT/MRI was done to program the CK machine. I did have a catheter in place for the CT/MRI. I was informed that the catheter was placed because I was to receive four treatments (PSA 20) rather than the normal five. Because of the catheter use for the CT/MRI only, there was minor bleeding tapering off to none after about 4 days. The diet lasted about four weeks. The morning bowel "flushing" for the CT/MTI and the four CK treatments (3/01/17) were really incovenient. As of todays date there has been some minor side effects that were to be expected, however they are almost nil. I had  my 77th. birthday end of January this year so we will see in two months where my PSA and testosterone numbers are setting.

 

Thanks for the response Graybeard.  Hope you continue to do well and I would be interested in your progress and observations.  Intersting in what appears to be a bit of doctor preference once again or perhaps protocol for different levels of PCA involvement.  In my case I am getting my CT scan and MRI next Wednesday.  My treatments will begin 8/7/17.  Five treatments over 12 days.  36.25 Gy total.  For the scans and the treatments, along with what appears to be the constants of the low fiber diet and the purging, they have me doing the same routine before each which is emptying my bladder immediately upon arrival for treatment and then drinking a finite amount of water (8 ounces).  No catheters involved.  What they explain they are doing is to attempt to insure that the conditions in place for the scans are as identical as possible for the treatments.  We'll see I guess.  Thanks and continued success for you I hope.      

Hello All.  Another quick update as tomorrow is four weeks since my last treatment.  So far so very good.  No Flomax yet and no urinary or bowel issues.  Knock on wood so far it is like it never happened.  Had a phone follow up last week with the Doc and in the absence of any issues no other contact necessary until my first PSA test early next year.  If I try real hard to think about any differences I guess I might have a very slightly increased urgency when I have to urinate but hardly noticeable.  Were I used to sleep about 5 nights out of seven without getting up at all now I may get up once per night another day or two.  Overall given that I had to do something for a treatment not do active survellance I am really happy.  Thanks to all for the continuing participation on this valuable site and I hope everyone on here is getting the information they need.    

Just another brief check in for my random entries.  Just had my third blood test and PSA is now ,3 from 1.0.  All systems still a go I am so blessed that so far I have virtually no issues to deal with.  Radiologist once again said don't bother to come in and cancelled my apontment for 6 months.  Next appointment I will do another blood test and he will do the digital routine.  As always I don'r post a lot but I read a lot on here.  Always available to help in any way.  Do not under any circumstances ask me for dietary or healthly living advice.  I am not a poster boy for any of that for sure and need to shed a few as my A1C type numbers while still OK have krept in the past 6 months.  Cheers to All.   

Just had another blood test since 6 months ago and first finger wave in a year.  PSA has stayed at .3 and finger wave was good.  Doc said get another test in 6 months and if still at .3 plus minus small change don't come back for another year.  He said he does not get concerned unless a PSA reading goes real high like 2 points over the nadir.  All else I'm still blessed with going well.  Not much more to say except once again thanks to all who supply help and info on this site.