fiducial markers do they show up in TSA scans

@surftohealth88 I was offered sedation but declined it. Local lidocaine only. Fully awake. So it was about a 20 minute start to finish, dressed and out the door. No pain during or afterward . General anesthesia will stretch that out quite a bit. If he is apprehensive at all I would do the full anesthesia. My brother did it that way for both the biopsy and fiducial / barrier procedures. He liked it that way. They put a cloth sight barrier so I didn’t see them working. Felt slight pressure, but no pain. I think now, knowing what I know, I would do it the same way. Sedation screws up my whole day.

My seeds were done at the same time as a trans rectal prostate biopsy, under local anesthesia (topical and injected Lidocaine) at UCSF. I didn't feel a thing during or after. Lidocaine can take some time (15 minutes or more) so it's important that your doctor allows this time. No problem with TSA.

@oldgreenpaint @brownsf

Thanks so much for describing your procedure and pain level 👍 . It is good to know that local is enough since I think that he would prefer it too.

BTW - is procedure for bead placement done transrectaly or transperinealy ?

As I mentioned, my seeds were done trans-rectally at the same time as a prostate biopsy. There was some discomfort but the pain was practically 0. In fact, I even sent the doctor a thank you note for making it so easy. I believe the procedure also can be done transperinealy but I have no experience with that.

@surftohealth88 For me, perineal and done at same time. 4 carbon dots first, and then the gel spacer that is pumped through a needle into position. This all sounds worse than it actually is. Three bandaids I think? Two dots through one needle, two through another, and then the gel that quickly turns into a rubber like thing. I actually could not tell it was there, but some men can. One really good thing is that this procedure is the LAST invasive thing to happen. The actual radiation isn’t at all invasive, but can cause urinary discomfort. It did for me. Now at six months post radiation I am mostly back to normal.

@surftohealth88 - Mine were transrectal with a local (Lidocaine). Three gold total. 1 & 2 hurt like hell. Didn't feel 3 at all. As stated, make sure the lidocaine has time to work. Took about 25 minutes and then I drove myself home afterwards. No issues.

@mjp0512
Thanks so much Mjp for sharing your experience 🙂. I think that our dr. mentioned 3 markers too. The placement was scheduled for end of July but than moved now for next week and we had no opportunity to ask any questions 😬, so thanks for additional details. If there would be an "anthem" for PC support group it definitely should be song "The NeverEnding Story" . (1984)

@surftohealth88 - You're welcome surf. Couple more things. Horse pill antibiotic the morning of the procedure and an antibiotic shot in rear in office just before. I remember feeling the shot for much longer than the procedure itself. Injection site was sore for a day or 2 afterward. Fiducial placement was unremarkable by that evening. Timing...fiducials inserted on 9/2, simulation on 9/11, IMRT began on 9/30.

And then on to the full bladder, empty bowel routine which is its own chapter on MCC...😁