Connect
← Return to Recent Proton Experience?
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
I just finish proton RT in May and because of the location of my tumor a gel spacer could not be used, so I had the balloon. Although certainly not terrible, it was the most uncomfortable part of the whole treatment. I was talking to the technicians one day and asked about balloons and they said probably 50% of their patients used them. I was surprised as I thought gels were more common now.
Replies to "I just finish proton RT in May and because of the location of my tumor a..."
That’s an interesting comment about percentage use, thanks. I have to admit that the balloon experience wasn’t physically uncomfortable, it just took a couple times to get over the mental experience,…especially since the RO techs were sometimes attractive ( and skilled) young women! They were great and very respectful.
Connect
These days, if there’s concern “… of the location of the tumor” such that “a gel spacer could not be used…”, the goto is BioProtect. (FDA-approved in 2023.)
As this paper states, “…if you're worried about microscopic extracapsular extension being displaced through the liquid of the spacer,…..the likelihood of spreading extracapsular cells is virtually nil.”
> https://www.urotoday.com/video-lectures/lugpa-2024/video/3006-symmetry-visibility-and-control-the-advantages-of-the-bioprotect-balloon-in-prostate-cancer-treatment-edward-soffen.html