What kind of radiation you had for salvage ?

@surftohealth88
I have looked this up before and it is interesting.
More information than you ever wanted to know. ….. well,,,,not really
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a type of External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) . EBRT is the broad category of radiation therapy that uses a machine outside the body to deliver radiation to the tumor. IMRT is an advanced form of EBRT that uses sophisticated software and hardware to precisely shape and vary the intensity of the radiation beams to match the tumor's shape, thereby maximizing dose to the tumor and minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

@jeffmarc
Thanks Jeff - you are golden 👍🏆 !!!

@surftohealth88

IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy) is a type of EBRT
(External Beam Radiation Therapy). IGRT is a technique used within EBRT to improve treatment accuracy by using imaging (like CT or MRI) before or during sessions to guide the radiation beams more precisely to the tumor, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

@surftohealth88
They could be using IMRT, they did say that various areas would get higher doses of radiation than other areas. I agree sooo many acronyms. 6 down 32 to go 🙂
PSA now down to .23

@surftohealth88 I’m sure you’ve seen most of the articles about IGRT. I knew absolutely nothing about the actual mechanics other than you were blasted with photons.
The cone beam XRay is a type of CAT scan (less radiation) that is taken before every treatment session to ensure that the bladder is full and the rectum is empty of gas.
They use this when they are giving high dose, shorter time treatments- ie I had 25 treatments vs 39 ‘traditional’ ones; same amount of radiation but over a shorter course.
The main objective is to reduce both long and short term side effects; overall survival rates are the same as other forms of treatment. Hope this helps!
Phil

@surftohealth88 "RO also suggested gold beads as markers, I can find very little info about that : /. Usually, as you mentioned Jeff they use tattoo markers."

In my case they used both. The gold markers were inserted trans rectally as I recall, it just gives a more precise aiming point for the IMRT. The are tiny gold pieces more like bars than beads.

Gold fiducial markers are tiny, rice-grain-sized objects implanted into a patient's prostate to provide a visible target for radiation oncologists during IMRT treatment, ensuring accurate and precise delivery of radiation beams by allowing for daily realignment of the patient and the treatment plan.

Pictures at https://izimed.com/products/gold-fiducial-markers

Obviously mine were implanted where the prostate was.

Thanks John, Phil and Web : ))) !

It all was very helpful and I am now starting to get some vague grasp of it all. I do not know why it helps me to know how something actually works : /, but it makes me more comfortable and more relaxed when I know what is actually happening and why. Most people are the opposite of that - how I wish *sigh. I also wonder if there are some benefits of one comparing to other, but it seems that again it all depends of radiologist's capabilities.

@johndavis60

YEAYYYY for PSA down !!!! May it drop to 0.0000000001 on treatment 15 ! : )))
I am so happy to hear this - now both of the branches of your treatment work wonderfully in synergy ! ADT and SBRT both work and I remember how worried you were that neither might work *hugsss - just such a blessing and relief ! < 3 I am so happy for you : ))) ! How are you feeling : ) ???

question to all who have had pelvic area radiation ( lymph nodes etc)
eanding 2nd week of IMRT and noticed I am feeling a bit tender in pelvic area last two days..it gradually moderates but is a bit of an anooyance in the morning..kinda like playing football and getting hit just above groin area ( but not super painful) then later in day it is not near as noticeable..

so is this normal ?? my first trip to this rodeo !

@xahnegrey40 I had no pain anywhere, even after 5 weeks…
But perhaps because you had positive lymph node results on your PSMA, you are feeling inflammation in those nodes from the upheaval of dying cancer cells.
So much goes on in those glands that we are never aware of.