Just back from my “treatment planning” aka an hour long session with my radiation oncologist Dr Shipley at MGH.
I breezed in expecting some questions, some restatement of the potential side effects of proton beam therapy, and a quick whiz through the CAT scan machine. I was not disappointed. I did indeed receive these – and much much more!
It turns out that the preparation for the CAT Scan involves a couple of “procedures”. One being the insertion of a gold seed at the base of the prostate. This is achieved by the injection of a) novocaine and b) the seed itself with a three inch long probe through the perineum. (If you don’t know what the perineum is – look it up!.) The second “proceedure” was the insertion of a dye into the bladder by way of a catheter. All I can say is that males are not really built for these kind of insertions! After that, the tattoo needle marking my lower belly in a couple of places after the CAT scan was a walk in the park.
Walking to the park-ing lot afterwards I felt proud of myself – even if a little invaded. I am assured that the hardest part of my treatment is now behind me. Could that be a pun?
Dancing with Prostate Cancer 