For the sake of patients nearby, I didn’t ring the bell, though I was deeply grateful that today was my final radiation dose and that it seems to have done its job in relieving the pain. It made me think back to 2016, when I went through 39 doses. Hearing that bell ring early in my treatment back then would have only reminded me how far I still had to go.
Category: Cancer
The Cutting of the Hospital Wristbands
Saturday afternoon, home at last from Thursday morning. So many tests and scans, day and night. So many kind people at this University of Minnesota teaching hospital: it keeps me optimistic about the next generation. No more appointments until Monday.
Me and a Medical Linear Accelerator
This afternoon, I got a carefully delivered dose of radiation from this magnificent machine that rotated around me, targeting the tumor on my spinal cord. Another dose tomorrow (Saturday), and then hopefully I’ll be discharged from the hospital. I’ll have a few more doses next week.
Sleepover at the U
This morning my care team had been looking at my records and decided an ER visit was in order. From there I was admitted to a hospital room for the next couple nights or so for another MRI then spine surgery (maybe) and radiation (probably). Photography by Dwight, chocolate chip cookies by a friend.
Something normal
On the way home from a medical appointment, I insisted on something normal*: an Americano and an old-fashioned donut at Open Book. It doubles as our polling place, but there weren’t many takers: we live in a liberal neighborhood, and I expect most people heeded the warnings to vote by mail. *Normal is important to me: I’d just learned that my tumor is now pressing against my spinal cord, likely leading to palliative surgery.
Glowing from within
Today I had a SPECT/CT scan. Friday’s Pluvicto infusion attached directly to the tumor, providing enough radiation for today’s imaging. As the drug decays, it emits gamma rays detected by two rotating cameras in the foreground. The scan finishes with a CT from the rear ring, which is merged with the SPECT data to form a 3D image. Pretty neat.
I did it my way
For some reason, potato chips with my coffee before an 8:30 a.m. Pluvicto infusion felt mildly rebellious. No lingering guilt.
Waiting for Godot
Existential angst on stage at the Guthrie tonight; existential choices at the oncologist’s office this morning, with Dwight steady at my side through both. A drug will let us kick the can down the road to the next decision point, pretty much promising a normal life for a few more months. Meanwhile, Didi and Gogo remain trapped by inaction, going nowhere beneath that scrawny tree.
Finding good in each day
We had a lovely Japanese dinner at Misono with my sister-in-law and nephew D, catching up on family news and gossip. Nephew C is now in college, and nephew D will be leaving the nest next year. During the meal, a notification popped up on my phone showing that the report from Friday’s PET scan was available. I ignored it until we got home. It’s not good news, but life is good, and we’ll take this one day at a time.
Another step in the journey
I’m familiar with the prep for today’s PSMA PET scan. A technician is about to inject the radioactive tracer, which comes in a heavy radiation-shielded syringe. The tracer binds to a specific antigen on the surface of prostate cancer cells, emitting positrons that the scanner converts into a reasonably detailed image. It’s an expensive test, but I didn’t hesitate to ask for it at this point in my journey, and I’m grateful my insurance agrees.