He'll take over my hormone treatment. My initial injection was good for 4 months, which takes me to the end of May. That's good timing, because that should be when the radiation treatments end, and that's when he wants to see me next. He's going to switch me to 3-month injections, because he'd like to see me every three months. He also plans to add another drug that will address the risk of bone loss (osteoporosis) associated with the hormone treatment. I believe he also plans to check my PSA again at the May visit. It should be no higher than the end-of-January readings, with the hormone treatment and radiation treatment working together to kill the last of the cancer. Here's hoping.
I don't have to wait much longer for the cancer-related activity level to jump. This coming Tuesday I'll have my "radiation simulation". This is really a targeting session. I believe the protocol is for me to drink some radioactive stuff, and also have some radioactive stuff injected. Then they'll do a CT scan to get a complete mapping of where my blood vessels and digestive tract are located internally. During the radiation treatments they'll want to avoid irradiating any part of my digestive tract.
And because of the positive lymph node after surgery, they need to map out my blood vessels. As explained to me by the radiation oncologist, lymph nodes are located in close proximity to blood vessels. They can't really image the lymph nodes, but if they know where the blood vessels are, then they can irradiate around the blood vessels at a distance of just a few millimeters. This will ensure that the lymph nodes get their rads.
After the imaging we'll do the actual simulation of the radiation treatment. When they're sure everything is properly aligned, they'll apply a few small tattoos for guidance during the live sessions.
After Targeting Tuesday, I'll head to southern Illinois Thursday evening for Easter weekend. When I return, it should be time to start radiation.
