Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Photos II (PG-rated; may be unsuitable for small children)

The therapists are often asked to take pictures near the end of the treatment cycle, and on the day of my next-to-last treatment in the Blue Gantry, Michaela and Kelly were happy to oblige.

In the first picture, I have settled into my pod (the blue part under me). I'm wearing a hospital gown, open in the back. From my waist to my knees I also have a towel over me. This gives me the illusion of modesty, while the therapists tug and push my legs and hips into the position needed, as determined by laser beams. I get to keep my socks on; the tile floors are a bit cold. I'm holding a blue rubber ring, so my arms don't droop and possibly pull my body body out of alignment.

At the moment, the place from which the beam emerges is not in position; it's clearly aimed too high. I get positioned first, then the beam. Also, the collimators and plastic modulator are not yet installed in the nozzle.

The large darker disk behind me has two rectangular shapes. Each is the end of an x-ray arm. The whole disk rotates, to bring the x-ray arm into the proper orientation. The entire beam apparatus also rotates, including the gray-and-white "nozzle," the blue housing around it, and all of the beige steel behind that. The therapists have already put both the disk with the x-ray arms and the beam apparatus into approximately the correct orientation for treatment on my left side. When treatment is to be on my right side, the beam apparatus rotates to the top of the room and back down the other side, almost 180 degrees. The x-ray disk also rotates, about 90 degrees clockwise, so there is an x-ray arm at the top. Some people (prostate cancer patients and others) get treatment on both sides during the same session (one side at a time, of course), so they get to see all of the movement.


In the picture below, the initial alignment is complete. One of the x-ray arms has emerged from the back, and is positioned to look at the gold markers installed in my prostate. The beam apparatus rotates slightly, as necessary, and the bed may move slightly up or down, to get the prostate in the cross-hairs, so-to-speak. Note that the brass collimators and plastic modulator are sitting out in the foreground, ready to install in the beam apparatus after everything is aligned.


Next, the therapists retract the x-ray arm, install the collimators and modulator, and leave the room. The single cyclotron proton source is shared by the three treatment areas, so there may or may not be a wait of a few minutes. Soon I hear a whine that rises in pitch. This is the activation of the beam modulator that controls the intensity of the proton beam now being directed into the beam apparatus in my gantry. A couple of minutes later, the whine falls in pitch, and stops. The treatment is over, and I didn't feel a thing. The x-ray arm may come out again then, to check that everything is still in place; that got less common later in my treatment weeks, as I apparently have a prostate that doesn't move around much. When the therapists come back into the room they take the rubber ring out of my hands, lower the table, and help me down to the floor with the help of a step-stool. Nothing left to do but grab my ID card, ensure that the therapists have written down the time and gantry of the next day's treatment, and head for the conveniently located rest room. A quart of water is a lot to hold for an hour! Then I get dressed and walk back to the waiting room. At first I left the building quickly, but as I got to know the other prostate patients and their wives, I stayed and chatted a bit. When Ursula was waiting for me in the waiting room with the others, it was sometimes difficult to drag persuade her to leave.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Photos I (G-rated)

Here are the last things the proton beam saw before it got to me. First, the two brass collimators, together, defined the 2-dimensional shape of the beam when it came from the left side. Each was about 7 inches in diameter and about an inch thick, and each weighed about 5 pounds. Each was made specifically for the shape of my prostate, as seen from the left side.


The third object above, also shown in close-up below, is a hard plastic piece that was added to the stack after the collimators. It's about the same diameter, about twice as thick, and weighs about three pounds. It was sculpted to modulate the intensity of the beam specifically for my prostate. The central part is very thin, and lets most of the protons through. The rest of the sculpted-out part is thicker where a less-intensive beam is needed. The final beam that reached me matched the three-dimensional shape of my prostate.

Each piece is coded with H (head), F (foot), P (posterior), and A (anterior) to ensure that they are inserted into the apparatus in the correct orientation. Each piece also has a label on the edge, seen below, with my name and a bar code. The therapists scan each piece, as well as the body pod and my PTI ID, to make sure that everything matches.


Two more brass collimators and another plastic beam modulator were made to fit the shape of my prostate as seen from the right side. After my series of treatments was finished, the four brass collimators were melted down and recast for another use. The two plastic modulators can't be reused, and I got them as souvenirs of my treatment. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with them. Other recipients of these souvenirs have mentioned some possible uses, including bookends (when mounted on pedestals), ashtrays, nut/candy dishes, and large jello shot molds. I may just hang them on a wall. If located in the living room, they would make excellent conversation starters.

The collimator precision is wasted if the beam isn't aimed accurately. First I settled into the body mold that was prepared for me before treatment started. Then laser beams, pre-programmed for me, were aimed at a target on my hip, marked with permanent marker and covered with a 1" diameter plastic film. The marker locations were established the same day the body mold was prepared, using an x-ray to first establish my exact prostate location (using gold markers previously installed in my prostate). The green marker is used to adjust the proton beam so that hits to within a millimeter or so of its intended target in the prostate. The beam where it enters is offset from the marker. In the picture below, the reddish patch that is mostly below and to the left of the marker, and about three inches across, is where the beam actually hit. This is the "proton sun burn" and various from man to man, depending on skin type and sensitivity. Mine is hard to see without looking carefully, but some men have much redder patches that may itch and flake off. Like a sun burn. The "proton sun burn" will fade away before long, leaving me with only the plastic modulators as souvenirs.


Next post: I'm the center of attraction in the futuristic treatment area.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Reducing the Risk of Initial and Recurrent Prostate Cancer

One of  our Wednesday Lunch Bunch meetings featured a talk by a PTI doctor about prostate cancer risks, both initially and after treatment. He discussed a variety of research studies, and noted that some were contradictory and some recommendations have changed over time. From out of the data he pulled his own current recommendations, and put them into a handout. They don't come with any guarantees, and his recommendations may change as new research is completed, but here they are for now:

Measures That May Help Reduce Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer
  • Daily Enteric Coated Aspirin
  • BMI less than 30 Kg/sq m (Get Slim)
  • Physical Exercise, Adequate Sleep, Frequent Safe Sex
  • Plant-based diet with Tomatoes, Soy, Broccoli, Nuts, Berries, Fatty Fish, Green Tea, Coffee
  • Vitamin D
  • Avoid Large Doses of Vitamin Supplements including Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Zinc
  • Avoid Whole Milk (Dairy) and Processed Meats


Measures That May Help Reduce Risk of Recurrence After Treatment
  • No Smoking
  • BMI less than 30 Kg/sq m (Get skinny)
  • Exercise- ≥3 hour vigorously, or 7 hours of brisk walking, per week
  • Plant-based diet that includes cruciferous vegetables, nuts, olive-oil
  • ≤2 servings of meat per week, and avoid red, processed, fried or grilled
  • 4 cups of coffee per day
  • 1 glass of red wine per day
  • 1 glass of Pomegranate Juice
  • Daily 85 mg Enteric Coated Aspirin (AKA baby aspirin)
  • Avoid Large Doses of Vitamin Supplements, especially Selenium
  • Avoid Whole Milk (Dairy)

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Graduation Remarks

Newbies, Graduates, and Alumni are invited to speak at each Wednesday Lunch / Meeting at PTI (the Proton Therapy Institute). Three days ago I attended my last Lunch as a patient, so I was officially a Graduate. Here is what I said. If something doesn't make sense to you, well, the other prostate cancer patients knew exactly what I was talking about.

I’m Gordon Morgan and this is Ursula, my wife and traveling companion for four decades.
I worked in the Florida Department of Transportation for a long time, so I often think of life in transportation terms…
Not long ago, life for Ursula and me was like a fun trip rolling down a highway (think I-10 between the pines, not I-95 between the construction cranes).
Suddenly, there was a detour sign: Prostate Cancer, Exit here.
Following the exit, I saw several more signs: One was This way to radiation, it will work for a while. Another was Turn here for seeds, they’ll probably work. The biggest sign was: Straight ahead for surgery (that sign seemed to lead to a steep drop-off at the end of the road).
Finally, I spotted the path to Jacksonville and proton beam therapy. It was not heavily traveled, but it looked promising.
That path took me through a region of X-rays, MRIs, bone scans, CT-scans, and more. But finally, I got to my destination—which turned out to be... a cruise ship! The SS PTI! I had never been on a cruise ship, but I could tell what it was.
The Admirals of the Fleet (The Executive, Physics, & Medical directors) got the ship built and outfitted. Thank you, especially Dr Mendenhall.
The Captain, for me, was my doctor: he learned where I’d been and where I needed to go, and set the course for my personalized treatment. He also arranged to give me a special OAR, but I never had to help row the ship. That’s good, because the Space OAR is stored in a place that I can’t reach. On the other hand, he took away a hormone--but I’ll get it back later. Thank you, Dr Henderson.
The First Mates (my Case Managers) made sure I followed the Captain’s orders, answered all my questions, and were always available if I needed anything. Thank you, Petro and Alicia.
There were special sailors in the ship dispensary, AKA the Nurses’ Station. They took vitals, helped with procedures, and greeted me cheerfully when I arrived. Thank you, Maggie, Tia, Evelyn, and all the others.
A variety of specialized deck hands staffed the Blue Deck and the Yellow deck (I never saw the Red deck). They were friendly as well as efficient as they helped me settle into a comfy place to lie down every morning…although they only let me stay there a few minutes. And they didn’t serve drinks...but there was plenty of water. A LOT of water. Thank you, John, Jeff, Donny, Loren, Courtney, Laura, Hannah, Dominick, Michela, Tasha, Kelly, Devin, Cindie. Hope I haven’t left out too many.
The SS PTI has many kinds of accommodations for the passengers…Ursula and I were on the Third Deck in the Main part of the ship (Third & Main) quite near the heart of the ship. The smiling stewards there made sure we had everything we needed…and threw an occasional party for everyone. Thank you, Melissa & Debra.
Below deck were the unsung heroes, the physicists, mechanics, and electricians who kept the ship moving. I never saw them, but I appreciate them. There were a few issues, especially on the Yellow deck, but they always got us moving again…sooner or later.
The other passengers on the USS PTI have been amazing. We got to know each other, traded stories and tips for dealing with occasional rough seas, and we made some valuable friends. Without them, it would have been a much longer trip. Thank you to all of you.
The SS PTI encouraged us to get to know each other by providing a large and comfortable waiting room (with Gerri, and now Stacy), support group meetings, and free lunches. Our Social Director hosted meetings, introduced speakers, and answered questions. He also selected and coordinated visits to various ports of call…Italy, Mexico, several sea ports, and other tasty places. Thank you, Brad.
Ursula and I have reached the end of our voyage now. We’ll remember all of it fondly…well most of it…and we’re certainly glad that we got the chance to join so many wonderful people on the SS PTI.


Thursday, July 13, 2017

Done!

That's it. I'm finished. It's complete. 39 out of 39. No more getting up at 5:00 am (necessary for the 6:30 am treatment time that I wanted). No more restrictions on beans and cruciferous vegetables (although Ursula cautions me to not rush into anything she'll regret).

My last treatment was at 6:30 this morning. Ursula brought delicious brownies and pecan muffins to distribute to the other patients, the nurses, the therapists, the helpful lady at the waiting room desk, and even the man who watches over the car parking out front. I rang the ceremonial chimes at 7:30. Then it took a while to say goodbye to the other patients/friends, what with all the handshakes, hugs, and well-wishes. Many of the others are also getting close to completion, and everyone was happy.

We still need to pack up and clean the apartment, but we're not in a great hurry. The hard part is over...and it wasn't really even hard.

I'm leaving PTI feeling great, with a lower PSA (as of yesterday morning). I was told that the PSA often takes a while after treatment to go down, but mine has already. In fact, it's so low that I want to wait until my next PSA test results to confirm it before publishing the number. That will be Monday, in Tallahassee.

Much has happened in the last couple of days that I want to write about, including the little speech I gave at my last Lunch Bunch meeting yesterday. I didn't get a standing ovation, but more than a few people told me it was great, both more humorous and more interesting than most. I'll include it in a later post.

Also coming up: pictures! Nothing too graphic, I promise. That post will be mostly G-rated, with maybe a PG picture or two. Stay tuned!


Monday, July 10, 2017

The Final Week

Today, I had my 4th-to-the-last treatment. I also had my last weekly visit with my doctor, and got my discharge instructions: what to do and not do after treatment. That will take an entire post, later.

Tomorrow, Ursula and I will go to our last group lunch with our PTI friends, a seafood restaurant near the beach.

Wednesday, we'll attend our last Wednesday Lunch Bunch / meeting at the PTI, 2nd floor, where I'll be one of the graduates (those who have completed treatment, or will complete it before the following Wednesday lunch). As a graduate, I'll be invited to say a few words...I've been working on my remarks, which I'll publish in a later post. After lunch, I'll join the other graduates in the atrium for a group picture.

Thursday, I'll have my last treatment. Soon after, I'll go to the atrium and swing the rope connected to the large chimes hanging from two stories up. The chime-ringing is usually well-attended and accompanied by applause, congratulations, a variety of photo ops, and even a tear or two.

Everything afterwards will probably feel anti-climactic. We'll say good bye to our new friends, pack up our belongings, and make the bare apartment presentable (we have guidelines from Third and Main on what we need to do). Then we'll be ready to go back to our "real life."

Monday, July 3, 2017

Day-Specific Activities

Following up on my previous post, here is a day-by-day summary of things I don't do every day.

Monday: I have a weekly appointment with my doctor and one of my case managers. The case manager asks me a series of questions about specific areas of my health, including things that may occur because of the testosterone blocking shot (to weaken the testosterone-feeding cancer cells), the SpaceOAR (the insert that separates my lower intestine from my prostate), bladder irritation (due to the proton beam hitting the part of the bladder that's not pushed away by the quart of water I drink before treatment), and other possible issues. I've had no few or no problems in each of these areas, but they keep asking in case something develops. Then my doctor reviews my records and asks if I have any questions. I seldom do, because the case manager covers everything so thoroughly.

Tuesday: Brad, the Patient Services Director for the Proton Therapy Institute (PTI), selects a restaurant in the Jacksonville area to meet for lunch. Brad works with the restaurant to make reservations and make sure there is room for all of the patients and care-givers who want to attend. We all pay for our own lunch, however. Along with waiting-room conversation, this is a great way to get to know others at PTI.

Wednesday morning: Brad hosts a men-only meeting of men getting prostate cancer. We each talk about how we were diagnosed, how we came to be at PTI, and any issues that may concern us. Sometimes Brad will supply answers (he was a therapist at PTI before he became the de facto social director). More often, other patients will chime in with how they have dealt with similar issues. We all learn from each other. One thing we learn is that while we have basic similarities in our history, treatment, and reactions, we're all a little different in subtle areas. These discussions provide a more in-depth picture of what we're doing and how to deal with issues that may come up.

Also Wednesday morning: At the same time as the men's prostate meeting, there is a meeting for care-givers (typically spouses or parents). They share information and ideas about how to support their loved ones who are getting treatment for cancers of the prostate, head, neck, spine, and other areas. Many of those getting treated are children with cancers that are difficult to treat by other methods, and their care-givers can especially benefit from these interactions.

Wednesday noon: PTI hosts a free catered lunch on the second floor of the building for all patients and care-givers. In addition to getting a meal that is balanced and tasty, we hear PTI people (doctor, therapist, researcher, etc.) give an illustrated presentation about an issue related to his or her area of expertise. Then we get to hear from each other. Brad invites Newbies (those who haven't been to a previous lunch) to introduce themselves. This is one way we learn about the variety of cancers being treated. We also find that many patients are from other states (as far as Hawaii), England, Wales, Australia, and other countries. They often talk about how their doctors didn't mention proton therapy, and how their insurance didn't want to cover it (although PTI works with them to find a way). Then Brad asks for input from Alumni, those who have returned for a quick follow-up check and don't want to miss a Wednesday lunch. They typically tell us how glad they are to have been treated at PTI. Finally, we hear from Graduates (those who have finished or nearly finished their treatments and are at their final lunch). They tend to give heart-felt thanks to PTI doctors, therapists, and other staff, and to the other patients with whom they have shared friendship and ideas.

Wednesday evening: Occasionally, the management of Third and Main (where many PTI patients stay) will host a dinner get-together on the premises. They invite all PTI patients and care-givers, even those not staying at Third and Main. Pot-luck contributions are invited but not required, and there is always plenty of good food. These meals can last for several hours before everyone is talked out. They also coordinate a group dinner near the site of Jacksonville's first-Wednesday-of-the-month Art Walk in the Springfield area.

Thursday evening: Same as Tuesday, except it's for dinner at 5:30 and may be at a fancier restaurant.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Time to get shopping, museum visiting, and others things done that we didn't have time for earlier in the week. Those who live close by may go home for the weekend; we've been getting back to Tallahassee about every other weekend.

By the way, I've now had 32 of my 39 treatments. I'll have three more this week (the Fourth is a holiday), and four next week. Last treatment: July 13.