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07/30/2006: "Stereotactic Radiotherapy"
As you know, I am moving forward with radiation treatments directed towards the tumor on my 7th vertebrae. Bone metastasis can be trouble as these tumors are more stubborn than most. If left unchecked, it could deteriorate the vertebrae until it crumbles.
I am lucky, as recent technological advancements have moved the field of radiology well into the 21st century. In my case as in spinal column and brain tumors, they are now using machines that are extremely accurate with their delivery of radiation. They are even referring to it as “surgery.”
Beginning August 10th, I will lay under a machine called the Novalis, which delivers Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT). The machine will deliver radiation in small, divided doses over a total of 13 daily sessions. The doctor will feed my MRI and CAT scan data into the Novalis computer and the radiation beams will be shaped to match the exact contour of the tumor. The machine steadily moves around the table so that the radiation penetrates the tumor from different angles. As a result, the tumor receives the full dose of radiation and hopefully the surrounding healthy tissue gets very little. It greatly reduces the damage to healthy surrounding tissue such as my spinal cord.
“Shaped Beam Surgery” is the latest technology and allows precision down to sub-millimeter accuracy. Unfortunately, in order to get that level of accuracy, they have to lock the patient down to a precise immobile location for each treatment. Last Thursday they made a mask for me. It is like a mesh of fiberglass stretched within a frame. They heated and pressed it on to my head and shoulders as I lay on a hard table locking the frame in place. As it cooled and dried, it hardened. As I sat there with this form fitted cage locked around my head, I quickly realized why this office distributes more Ativan than any other. Now I don’t consider myself terribly claustrophobic but this feels like someone has pulled the covers over your face and sat on your head. And you have to sit there without moving for over 20 minutes. It is so tight that it left mesh marks on my face that lasted for half an hour. Considering how hi-tech this process is, it feels like I am in some medieval torture device. I will try to bring my camera in to get a photo for you.
Oh my.............I am speechless ....and that takes a lot. I will imagine the radiation doses zapping all the bad guys. Janet