Since some recent posts evinced a concern about getting "too much" radiation, thought I share my current treatment as a counterpoint, Back in 2007 I had 72 Gy over 40 treatments for an average of under 2 Gy a shot. I was told this was the max,
Now I just finished my first of 5 CyberKnife where I am getting 5GY (500 rads)each treatment for a total of 25 GY (2500 rads). In other words, over double my past radiation dosage.
The RO explained it this way: my cancer cells have proven radiation resistant because they can take the standard doses and bounce back, but this approach is like a water ballon being overfilled until it bursts.
the cyberknife machine is way cooler than the IMRT machine - it looks like a giant white robot with a glass eye. Instead of just whirling around your head just out of sight like the IMRT did, this one flexes right up into your face and appears to look at you, ZAP, then dives down to the side of your chin ZAP over to your forehead ZAP, round the ears ZAP in a complex and dizzying dance. The hour on the table flew by - and unlike the IMRT no restraints on my wrists nor my ankles. Even the mask is NOT bolted down as tightly - I could blink my eyes without my eyelashes jamming up against it
I am trying to get digital copies of the radiation planning as some of them look just like Grateful Dead posters: my skull with an exploding Blue star chrysanthemum showing all the angles of attack.
Instead of bragging about how tough I was in not getting the PEG, I am going for "Frequent Fryer" status,
charm

[quote=Charm2017] Back in 2007 I had 72 Gy over 40 treatments for an average of under 2 Gy a shot. I was told this was the max,
Now I just finished my first of 5 CyberKnife where I am getting 5GY (500 rads)each treatment for a total of 25 GY (2500 rads). In other words, over double my past radiation dosage.
[/quote]

So how does 25 Gy equal 72 Gy ? lol

Frequent Fryer.... Good one!

M

David

you numbers guys. would you believe that I am getting the other 119 GY from a special gov't bailout to make it double ? Should have spelled out that I am getting double the radiation in one day (5 GY) this time around than I got in one day (>2GY) back in 2007. My RO assures me the side effects have the potential to be the same as the spread out version . We'll see. Feeling very positive,