The weekly Patient and Family Information sessions are being held regularly on Wednesdays. Carolyn Allsen, Nurse Manager at the Proton Center is coordinating the sessions. Ask Kathia Mundajano at the reception desk for next week's meeting notice or check out our new ProtonPals bulletin board in the gown room..

As Dean Ornish said in his talk in Houston recently, "Anything that removes our sense of community decreases health.  What ultimately frees us from our suffering are altruism, compassion and love.  We can't always cure but we can ALWAYS help people heal "

The group's mission is to provide part of that community of healing by providing support along with information of how to manage when you're away from home and in Houston for two months.

The restaurant meet ups are continuing on a weekly basis and large groups of 30 - 40 persons are meeting at a new restaurant every week. On Thursday night, I joined a large group who almost took over Fred's Corner Italian restaurant on 2200 Holcombe. Look for a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the "gown room", the men's dressing room near Gantry 3. I think we all would like to keep this tradition going and hope you'll do your part in coordinating the sign ups and the restaurant reservations. Next week on June 3rd the group will meet at Tony Mandola's Gulf Coast restaurant on West Gray at 5:30 p.m. .

The panel which will feature Dr.John Mendelsohn and two key researchers in the field of genetics.  The panel was outstanding last year. It was the first time for me to hear Dr. Mendelsohn and my comment was - "What a smart thing it was to lure him away from Sloane Kettering in New York City and bring him to Houston. Our Houston leaders are to be commended." And what a great job he's done with the Cancer Center over the last 14 years with being named top cancer hospital in the nation for the past 8 years. Last year he spoke about one day being able to have gene based medications to halt or cure your cancer.

 
This month we're publishing the second part of a journal by one of our ProtonPals.

"Yesterday, Friday, marks the conclusion of the first week of proton radiation with no discernible side effects.  Only seven more weeks to go.  The only problem is a sore calf muscle.  One of the side-effects associated with hormone therapy.  I had my first weekly "see" with my oncologist who recommended ibuprofen.  Muscle soreness requires close monitoring.  It might signal a blood clot with more serious complications.
Radiation is quick and painless.  It takes about five minutes.  The preparation preceding is more complicated and time consuming.  My treatment is scheduled for 1:50 p.m. (changed from 11:50). I'm required to arrive thirty minutes before for an ultrasound measurement of the liquid content of the bladder.  An optimum level of "fill" is required to ensure a more defined separation of the bladder from the prostate gland.  I have to monitor my intake of water (about twenty ounces) before the ultrasound to accomplish the desired level. I was a little over the optimum the first day, but have since been able to balance intake to coincide with the crucial moment.
From the "prep" room, I'm escorted through a tunnel to the radiation room and then put face up on a cradle located under the machine. My position must be aligned precisely with the radiation beam.  I have Crucifix marks below my hips on each side that were marked with indelible ink earlier last week in the fiducial and simulation processes.  I am now capable of warding off vampire attacks from each side.   The rear is more problematic. 
 The radiation beam is aligned to center upon the marks.  A small balloon is inserted in the rectum and filled with water which aids in separation of the gland and provides some protection to the underlying tissue. (I am now a member in good standing with the "Brotherhood of the Balloon" (http://www.protonbob.com/proton-treatment-homepage.asp)). Once all is in place, an X-ray is taken to confirm the alignment.  I am cautioned by the technicians to lie absolutely still.  Any movement may jeopardize the placement.  If I have an itch, I'm told to let them know.  They'll scratch it.  All said I've been on the cradle from start to finish about twenty minutes.
There should be a warning sign placed at the front door of the Proton Center:
"PARK YOUR MODESTY HERE.  MANAGEMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS."
The only male I've seen aside from fellow patients is my doctor.  Females are everywhere: nurses, technicians, support staff, security, janitorial, etc. -- all highly courteous, dedicated, and competent -- young, pretty, and enthusiastic.  So, the process I've described requires a high degree of undress.  I wear a surgical gown, front and back, which must be rearranged to accommodate access.  At the prime moment the only thing that stands between the essential me and the sunshine is a draped towel. Through it all, the technicians remain steadfastly unabashed as they have seen it all before, so I think -- unconvincingly! But, what choice do I have?
My fellow patients and I assemble in the prep room attired in our fashionable gowns (light blue with darker polka dots), sipping water, exchanging pleasantries and awaiting our turn for treatment.  We are from many different places, but we share similar stories of diagnosis and agreement upon why we have coincidentally arrived here to seek our cure.  Some, like me, are "freshmen."  Just starting out.  The veterans who are at mid-term or near "graduation" clue us in and offer reassurance.  On the day of graduation (that's what they call the final day of treatment), the graduate and staff assemble in the hallway for the farewell.  The graduate whacks a large Chinese gong with finality as the clang gives rise to a crescendo of cheers from the assembled that echoes throughout the building.
My wife sits in the waiting room anticipating my return.  She passes the time reading and chatting with other patients' wives.  Because we depend upon a shuttle to take us to and from the Proton Center, we must time our trips to fit their schedule.  This means having to leave two hours preceding the scheduled appointment, and then wait 30-plus minutes afterward for pickup.  With travel and treatment it's a long afternoon until we arrive back at the apartment around 4:00 p.m.  We try to work some time in for exercise in the morning.  I use the treadmill in the exercise room along with some free weights.  She prefers an outdoor run/walk in the park across from our apartment.  The arctic chill of last week wasn't too accommodating.  Warmer weather in the 70s is due later in the week.
 My wife will be returning home on the 19th for a break from the routine and to catch up with needs there.  She'll return within a few weeks and probably stay until the end of February.  I'll finish up in early March, and follow her home a few days later.  She is concerned about leaving me on my own. I try to reassure her.   After all, how difficult should it be to microwave a TV dinner?  We shopped today and the larder is stocked well enough to last several days.  I can fill-in as needed until she returns, and there is cafeteria on the main medical campus.  I know the daily grind is wearisome.  The break will do her good. "

The complete journal is stored on our ProtonPals web-site in PDF form.

 

In case you didn't get to view or record Dr. Oz's Cancer Prevention Clinic TV program last Thursday May 20 there's still a way to watch it. We've been tracking Dr. David Serban-Schreiber since he visited Houston last year and I expect you will hear more from him since M. D. Anderson just launched an adjunct program that will follow what he advocates in his book, Anticancer, A New Way of Life.
Dr. Oz Part 1 Expert testimonial and brain cancer prevention,
Dr, Oz Part 2 What's more dangerous cigarettes or chewing tobacco,
Dr. Oz Part 3 Exercise and cancer
Dr. Oz Part 4 Colon and ovarian cancer,
Dr. Oz Part 5 Skin cancer,
Click here to learn more about ground breaking project Dr. David Servan-Schreiber and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

 

The following article is titled One small step for proton centers, one giant leap for radiation therapy and I'd recommend it.  The author makes extensive use of interviews and a tour with Dr. A. K. Lee at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Proton Therapy Center. It's a factual article that does a good job of describing the Anderson Proton Therapy Center how it helps pediatric cancer patients. It says a bit about all the Centers including the planned ones and innovations in small systems.  DotMed News Article

Recently I was invited to participate with Dr. Lee in a podcast about Proton Therapy. The podcast accompany's a blog that Dr Lee has been writing now for the last 2 months and the current one is available here..

 Dr. Lee's Blog and PodCast

I was also invited to "tell" my story and interviewed by a professional writer from the Center. As most of you know I'm a 3 year survivor who spends his time keeping the ProtonPals going. We've summarized how I found out about proton therapy and my exceptional experience at M.D. Anderson in this story PalJoe's Story