I need to stop and think. Where am I in this process? What Is next? It gets very confusing.
Here is what I know for sure. The intake process for the proton therapy treatment requires that I have an MRI. This is important because they use MRI imaging to help guide the proton beams during cancer treatment. I have an MRI scheduled for February 17th in Vero Beach. Another step in the intake process that the doctor would like to take is some minor surgery that will help to minimize the potential side effects of the proton therapy. I will be sedated for this procedure with the anesthetic propofol; a few days of recovery time are required after this procedure. After the MRI, the minor surgery, and recovery, I should be ready to move to Jacksonville to begin the daily proton therapy treatments. Hopefully, this will take place in mid-March.
After my emergency room visit last Thursday, some uncertainties have been added to the mix. My Vero Beach urologist would like to schedule a CT Urogram scan even though he did not find any blood or other abnormalities in his lab test. This scan would have to be performed before the MRI and the minor surgery listed above. Historically, scheduling scans for me has been a nightmare. If this scan is necessary, when will it be scheduled, and how long will it kick my proton therapy treatments into the future?
Another aside: my Vero Beach urologist, a surgeon, recommended External Beam Radiation (EBRT) and Hormone Therapy for the treatment of my cancer. He did not mention proton beam therapy and I do not think he was pleased with my decision to use UF Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville.
I’ll be talking with my “Dream Team” on Monday.
3 Comments
Thanks for the updates, Don. Sounds like you are on top of it all and progress is finally happening. Hard to see it when you’re in the midst of it. Glad you have a “team” to consult with!♥️
Trust your proton therapy team. Do you have a way to have your Drs. connected so they deal with these various conflicts?!
Yes, they are connected. I had to sign docs to allow this. Today I heard from the “Dream Team”, and they do not need the CT scan so I have canceled it. This will prevent weeks of delay.