Vp3: I was pleased with my MRIdian treatment for a number of reasons. My focus was what might do the least amount of harm to healthy tissue. The MRIdian stood out to me because of its narrow margins (2 mm vs 4-6 mm with other machines), it’s built in MRI so everything the RO team saw was in real time, it’s auto stop feature that stopped the radiation if my body moved based on the mapping programmed into the machine (internal movement caused by various natural movements can shift the prostate), three skilled people watching over me (vs less in other machines) and real time dynamic mapping, if needed. The Mirage randomized trial which compared the MRIdian viewray to other radiation machines (as a general radiation machine category) also helped me decide on the MRIdian and its limited side effects issues, again because minimizing the radiation to healthy tissue was a key focus for me. Of course, every one is different regarding side effects but mine were not bad.

The machine was open on both ends and they gave me special glasses to watch calming images while I was being treated.

I did have the spaceoar gel inserted which again helped with rectum separation from radiation.

With my first treatment, they had me drink 50oz of water 50 minutes before I was treated and although I made it through the first treatment without stopping, they could visually see with the built in MRI the rate of bladder fill and on the next treatment, 30 oz worked for me

In my research, it was hard for me, at first, to deal with all the terms like linac simulator, linear accelerator, and others, as it almost seemed as if I was not supposed to know the differences in machines and what the advantages of one type over another was. Maybe the dr’s, even RO’s, have too much on their plate to understand the subtleties with them all and to keep up with changes in terms. I think there are also machine biases’ for various medical and non-medical reasons all of which seem to end with “ outcomes are all the same” catch all phrase. In any case, in terms of protecting healthy tissue from radiation, while still being effective, I would make the same decision again.