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MRIdian Viewray Experience
Making a decision related to which radiation machine one uses seems to be something that does not get a lot of discussion by urologists and radiation oncologists in terms of the differences, other than their success with the machine they use. I chose the MRIdian Viewray. There are multiple choices with different capability and toxicity risks.
I had my first treatment, out of 5, on January 31. I had spaceoar gel inserted. The machine is both a radiation and MRI built into one unit. They can see healthy tissue and the cancer in real time and adjust accordingly using the machines dynamic mapping capability, if necessary. They used 2 mm margins based on a recent randomized trial called Mirage. The machine turns off automatically if your internals move and the radiation goes outside the mapped out area. No pain or real side effects after the first treatment. Second treatment is on Friday. My prostate cancer is contained within the prostate and I am almost 70 with Gleason 3+4 on one core and 3+3 on another. Psa was 10.2.
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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
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The SpaceOAR infiltrated my rectum and I had to postpone the proton treatments I was to get. As a result, I switched to active surveilance. I will do something when the doctors tell me the localized cancer absolutely requires treatment. When I attempted the proton treatment, my PSA was about 4.65 in 2022. It is now 5.95. My decipher was low risk at 0.37. Last MRI in January, 2023 saw two lesions at 4 mm and 9mm. Getting another MRI and PSA test in January, 2024 and will go from there.
Best wishes with that!
I have really very little changes without Space Oar and the changes I did have like more frequency were the same as others who had it and are easily helped with Metamucil and maybe an Imodium in the beginning here and there, also a probiotic, never had an accident though. Look in to Cyberknife C7 since ViewRay has gone BK but you shouldn’t need Space Oar with tight margins
I’m sorry to hear about your failed Spaceoar procedure. I was having my fiducial makers and Spaceoar placed when the Spaceoar kit failed and the doctor did not have a backup kit. So he abandoned the procedure for several reasons I am not having him try again. After wards I had an infection and was hospitalized. My question is if I decide to go back on active surveillance can I have a biopsy in the future since the markers were placed. I wasn’t sure if you ran into that.
Biopsy not a problem with fiducisls. I just had one last week.
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1 ReactionThanks that helps with my decision. It looks like I have to wait for the small amount of Spaceoar that was injected to clear out before I can try again and then I will have to decide whether to try another attempt at Spaceoar at a center of excellence or proceed with IMRT without it. Or even consider surgery. Have you decided if your going to give Spaceoar a second shot.
FYI. There are some hospitals that are using an engineer to keep the Mridian ready to work againand others that are using their own support system to keep using the Mridian.
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1 ReactionMy brother was set to have the MRIdian Viewray in Virginia when they all shut down. After researching other options, he found out that Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA, had the Viewray fully back up and running. He traveled there for treatment last month.
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3 ReactionsCs2024: last year, another spacer called bioprotect, was approved by the FDA. It is supposed to be a bit safer and provide more distance between the rectum and the prostate than spaceoar.
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1 Reactionbens1, I have it on the qt that Mridian is back with billionaire support. Any hospital with a viewray can now sign a million dollar contract to repair and maintain the machine.
Gently: thanks for that. That’s really great news. If you get any additional information, would you mind sharing it?