No, I don't glow in the dark

This is a summary of my prostate cancer treatment at the Samaritan Pastega Regional Cancer Center in Corvallis Oregon during the fall of 2017.

My primary care physician  Dr. Athay, referred me to a Urologist because of elevated PSA levels and frequent urination. The levels were doubling every six months.  The Urologist, Dr. Brandt, did a prostate biopsy which indicated cancer in 3 of the six locations sampled.  The biopsy classified my cancer as a Gleason 8 which is very aggressive. The urologist referred me to a Radiation oncologist, Dr. Wahl. A bone scan indicated that the cancer had not metastasized.  A CT scan indicated that the adjacent organs and tissue were also cancer free. The treatment would be a hormone shot to stop testosterone production (which promotes the cancer growth), wait 6 weeks, then start 9 weeks of external beam radiation. The radiation treatments would be 5 times per week.  I turned 77 years old shortly before the treatments began.

The prostate gland is a walnut sized organ located next to the bladder.  It produces seminal fluid during an ejaculation of sperm.  Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (22% of all types of new cancer cases in 2016).  Since my father died of it at age 82, my risk of getting it was doubled. The survival rate is the best of all of the forms of cancer.  In 2016 there were only 26,210 deaths reported in the USA.  If the cancer is detected and treated early there is a nearly a 100% survival rate for 5 years. It is estimated that 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer.  Most men with prostate cancer die of other causes such as heart attacks, strokes,  or age related illnesses. Prostate cancer is an old man problem. By comparison lung cancer, which is the second most common form of cancer, has a very high mortality rate. Prostate cancer has no known cause while lung cancer is preventable.

The radiation therapy machine (linac) is shown above. The linear accelerator is able to produce high-energy beams. Computers and software control the size and shape of the beams. The machine rotates around the stationary patient. Treatment takes about 15  minutes and is painless. The technicians get me lined up and then step out of the room to watch the treatment on monitors.

I experienced only two significant side affects. First the testosterone shot mellowed me considerably and squelched my sex drive. Secondly the radiation treatments caused fatigue. Before one of my treatments I fainted in the restroom and bruised my  hip, but luckily had nothing broken.

It is very important for the prostate position to remain stationary in the body during the 9 weeks of treatments. Therefore my weight had to remain constant. During each treatment a full bladder was needed. Also a balloon was inflated in the rectum with the result of "pinning" the prostate in exactly the same position for each treatment.  The abdomen had three dye markers which the linac used to make sure the body was correctly positioned.

Samaritan billed  the insurance company about $3,000 for each treatment. Medicare negotiated this fee to $1,500 pre treatment. My out of pocket was only about $60 per treatment.  I better last at least 5 years more in order to make it a good investment.

My support group is Janeil driving, super nice nurses, and a harpist in the waiting room. Also a free massage once a week that I didn't take advantage of.