12/14/07 - Greetings all! Well, I'm settled in Bloomington.
The computer is hooked up to an Ethernet connection and I have a few things to eat.
Such are priorities. Also, I did get an inexpensive cordless phone/answering
machine.
My address is 2001 E Lingelbach Dr, Apt 131, Bloomington, IN 47408. Phone number is 812-857-0093.
I will have my cell phone on when I'm
out and about.
Below are pictures of the apartment.
12/15/07 - Not my idea of a winter vacation. This is snot a
palm tree!
I'm thinking positive thoughts -- listening to Jimmy Buffett while writing this.
Later, Bob
12/17/07 - Greetings all (the list keeps getting bigger)!
Well, today was the first treatment. Didn't feel a thing except
for that darn (in this typeset, darn and dam look pretty much the same)
balloon they stuck up my rear end to stabilize things. One down
and 43 more to go.
On the way out of the treatment room, the pretty young technician
suggested that I hold the back end of my gown closed when I
went out into the hall! (OK, 95% of you said "oh gross."
Which one of
you didn't?) She also told me about a bar-b-q place that provides
free dinners on Monday nights to MPRI patients.
Guess where I went? Mexican will have to wait to another
day. I plan to head home for Christmas
after my treatment on Friday.
I'm now on Skype (nobixie). So, when I'm in Bloomington, and thus on high-speed, I can be reached that way.
Had nice video calls with John
and Hoss today. Thanks also to Dave(CRF) and Big Al for the land-line calls.
Later, Bob
12/20/07 - Greetings all, yesterday was a nice day for a change, so after treatment, I went for a walk near the apartment. On the nearby hill is this bell tower. The walk was short -- didn't want to tire myself out.
To round out the local points of interest, see below for where I throw my trash. Don't have this at the Farley Flophouse North!
I discovered that placing the outdoor temperature sensor just outside
the window was a bad idea -- too much influence from the inside
temperature. So, I put the sensor in a plastic baggie and tied it
under a bush -- see below.
Today, after my fourth treatment, I went to a very nice Mexican
restaurant for lunch. Delicious! I'm sure as memorable as anything reported from Central Michigan.
Sorry, no picture -- too busy eating. I did manage a third trip to the big mall nearby to pick up what
amounted to a $4 item. After a few more miscellaneous items, the total bill came to $41.
That's 10 times what I intended to spend. It's therapy! Plus, it doesn't hurt to help out the local economy.
Well, maybe just a little.
The treatments are moving along nicely. As my technician crew
becomes more familiar with my specific setup, the time is getting
faster.
Today, from the time I started undressing to the time I got dressed
again it was 30 minutes.
I have to lie down and get strapped into my fiberglass corset.
After a short delay to insert the rectum balloon
(the technicians take turns at the honor), I am rotated 90 degrees to
the beam.
First, an x-ray is taken from the position of the "gun," then the beam
focusing mechanism is slid in front of the
x-ray gun for a
final check. After a doctor and a physicist check that everything
is a go, we're on the way.
About a minute of "toasting" and then a 180 degree rotation to get to
the other side.
The same checks are done and then I'm evenly toasted for the day.
Tomorrow after treatment I'll be heading home for Christmas. I'll have to drive back on Christmas afternoon.
So, from tomorrow at noon until
I get back the evening of the 25th I will not be on Skype.
Everyone have a Merry Christmas.
Later, Bob
1/2/08 - Greetings all, I am now 25% done with my
treatments.
Everything is going fine. I really didn't want to venture out
this morning -- the temperature was
6º. One of the technicians said it was 3º when she came
in. So, yesterday was the warmest day of the year and today was
the coldest.
Of course, we've only had 2 days this year.
Once a week I meet with a doctor to discuss my progress. Today I
met with the director of the institute.
Interestingly, he had spent 35 years at Mass. General in Boston and was
familiar with my birth home
town of Needham. He also has friends in Belleville, IL and so has
passed through my current home town of O'Fallon.
He showed me a CT scan of my insides and explained what was happening
with "the plan."
So much of a dose daily to cover the prostrate plus a little bit
more. Then, when I'm about half way through the plan, the dose
will be
concentrated to a smaller area.
Hoss, I gave him the article you sent. He said that he had talked
to the guy who wrote it and is good friends with the doctor who was
quoted in the article. I think he was more interested in the
article on the back which was about the "Big Dig" in Boston.
Anyway, he said he agreed with the article in that medical resources
need to be properly managed -- although more proton therapy facilities
are on the
way, we don't need two in every town.
Later,
Bob
1/3/08 - Nothing new to report today, except I managed to get some pictures of the apparatus that's beaming me.
Picture #1 shows the view when I come into the room. I will be fastened in the restraint on the table which is mounted on a robotic arm like used in car manufacturing plants. In the center of the picture you can see the business end of the "ray gun." At the very top of the picture is the x-ray receiving plate in horizontal, stowed position on it's robotic arm.
Picture #2 is a closer view from the opposite side. The white box right behind the gray vertical beam in the center is the x-ray transmitter. It slides back to the right just before the proton beam is actuated.
Picture #3 shows where the beam comes out of the wall. It will travel through the air aimed by magnetic coils just before the aperture you see in picture #4. An x-ray is taken through the opening on the right to get me in position, although the robotic arm holding me is already programmed to position me very closely. You can see the x-ray transmitter through the opening. Then the aperture (the brass circle on the left) is slid to the right and another x-ray is taken through the aperture itself for final adjustment. A separate aperture is milled for shooting me from each side. Spiderman is for the benefit of children who undergo treatment her for brain tumors and such.
The final picture shows me on the table in position for the first x-ray. The table has been rotated 90º from the position in the first picture. The receiver has been moved and lowered to my side and placed in a vertical position. After the x-ray calculations are done and the x-ray equipment stowed, a final adjustment is made to the table if necessary and everything is checked by a physicist and a doctor before the proton beam does it's thing. Then, I am rotated 180º to get beamed from the other side and everything is repeated for that side.
The whole operation takes about 20 minutes not counting changing into
and out of the drafty-gown. Not shown is when I first get on the table
and a pretty girl sticks the stabilizing balloon up my rear end.
That delicate job is actually alternated between a guy and four gals --
everybody gets a chance except the head technician. Rank, etc.
Hope you enjoyed the tour.
Later, Bob
======
Nobixie: Have noticed if you glow in the dark after one of these
treatments? If so, send a picture! All the best wishes to you on a very
successful treatment.
73, Hoss
======
Dear Folks, Re: Proton Prostate Therapy
Found this link on the internet to be a fairly concise description of the apparatus used for Bob's treatment. Let's all hope for a beneficial result.
Sincerely, Charlie Dotson, WB8NSL
======
Bob stayed in Bloomington this weekend. On Saturday, 1/6/08, he drove up to Indianapolis for a tour of Fry's Electronics Store. On Sunday, 1/7/08, he came over to WA8ZWJ's to play radio "live" rather than on Skype. About lunch time, Charlie, WB8NSL, arrived in anticipation of his planned trip to Michigan on Tuesday with Keith, WA8ZWJ. We spent a delightful afternoon visiting and having fun.
Sunday evening we went to Marion's Piazza for a pizza dinner. In the first panel below are KC8UAW, Cindy and WD8CJD. In the second panel are Jack and Sandi. In the middle below are N8KXM and WA8ZWJ. Next are KA8SFL and Jane. Finally, the bottom row has Charlie, WB8NSL and Bob, N0BIX.
After dinner and visiting Bob returned to Bloomington so he would be ready for Monday morning's treatment.
Stay tuned - more to come as it is available!
======
Update 1/10/08 - Greetings all, The last week has
been pretty much routine except for last weekend.
I made a trip up to Indianapolis to visit Fry's Electronic Store --
spent 3 hours pushing a cart around the store but didn't buy
anything.
As John, N5AAA said, "There must have been to many items on sale!" On
Sunday I drove over to Ohio to visit the gang there plus Charlie,
WB8NSL who arrived at noon. There for the (radio) sked, a nice
chili lunch,
and a group pizzafest. Details and photos in Keith's Michigan
Update of 1/9.
(see above)
Treatments on Tuesday and Wednesday were canceled because the beam was down.
So, life here during the week has been pretty boring.
Admired the 50's retro stove controls. In the 5 weeks here, I used the oven once and a top burner once.
Microwave rules!
Also, had plenty of time to contemplate the ceiling at nap time.
Phone calls, Skype calls, skeds, and email have
been most enjoyable.
Tomorrow, I head home for the weekend. I have the opportunity to
have a makeup treatment on Saturday, but declined because I'm ready to
head
home to see my sweetie. I will be bringing Jean back with me on
Sunday and taking her back home on Friday the 18th.
Well, that's it for this time from my lush tropical vacation paradise -- NOT!
Later, Bob
======
Updated 1/17/08 - Hi out there in internetland,
One more week of treatments almost done. After tomorrow's, we head back home for the weekend.
At least it will just be the weekend for me; Jean has to go back to work. We've had a good week: went to Sam's
Club, Super Wal-Mart, and Best Buy -- the highlights of Bloomington's cultural landmarks.
Of the four day's big meals while we were here, two were eaten out and two Jean home cooked.
I'm nice and content, but next week it's back to the microwave!
Yesterday, on what was promised to be the warmest day of the week, we
drove to the nearby town of Nashville, IN.
It's an artist colony and craft and gift shopping place. Must be
really nice in the summer.
Yesterday, it was cloudy and the temperature didn't get into the
40's. Over half of the shops were closed, but still, we had a
very nice
time. Thanks to John and Jan for the suggestion. The first
picture below was from my scouting visit about 3 weeks ago -- a very
nice day.
The rest are from yesterday.
Later....Bob
======
Update 1/24/08 - Greetings all! Well another week has gone by, but a milestone has been reached: my
treatment on Tuesday the 22nd was my 22nd treatment out of 44 -- the half-way point!
Thanks to the Monday holiday, I had a long weekend at home.
It's been rather cold here this week as I'm sure it has been where most
of you are.
It was 7º when I got up about 9 AM. The apartment building
I'm in has three wings and only the third floor connects all
three. So, I had a little fun getting around as I decided to
explore the building.
This is called exercise. I spent half an hour and did 2943 steps
inside.
This equates to about 1.67 miles, although going up and down steps
messes up the distance calculation on the pedometer.
(There are at total of seven stories, but only four in each wing.)
Yesterday, I decided to shop for goodies. The idea was to pick up
a box of cherry turnovers, which I did, but I also bought a box of
32
mini cinnamon rolls (which were short about ten by the time I got
home). It didn't help that I later read that evening an article
on
cholesterol. Also, I had a message to call my doctor at home
about a blood test I took and found out today that my sugar reading was
high
and I have to take another blood test and have a doctor's
appointment. That's when I did my walk and gave away the rest of
the cinnamon
rolls. I'll have to finish the turnovers and chocolate before my
appointment on Feb 15th.
Here are some more pictures. The first one is of the fire escape
plan for
MPRI, showing the proton beam trajectory from the accelerator in the
upper left along the side of the building.
If the picture is big enough for you to see, note how the beam splits
off for each room,
sort of doubling back on itself. Since the accelerator is always
going, there is a lead lined "dump" room in the upper right corner.
The next picture is a blowup of the map showing my treatment room in the center. This is a stationary beam delivery setup where the only adjustments to where the beam enters the patient is limited to the range of movement of the table on the robotic arm. The next two rooms to the right are gantry systems where the beam delivery system can rotate around the table.
The next picture shows a gantry system. The delivery system mounted on the rotating wall is basically the same as mine. You may be able to see by the angle of the tiles in the back that the gantry are rotated slightly. This is an operational system. The gantry next to it is almost complete and undergoing certification.
This picture shows photos taken during construction of the new gantry. To judge the scale, note the worker in the second picture.
The next picture is looking through a viewing window to the top of the new gantry behind the walls as seen in the first gantry picture.
The last picture is looking down one floor to the bottom of the
gantry. The gantry is three stories high. You can see my feet
reflected in the glass window where I am on the middle level.
Hope you enjoyed the tour.
Later, Bob
======
Update 1/31/08 - Greetings all! Not a whole
lot to report this week.
Today was my 29th treatment and the first using new apertures that
narrowed down the target area to
just the prostrate (had been also radiating the surrounding
tissue). Went out to eat twice this week: yesterday, to an
Afghani restaurant
and today, Golden Corral. I won't be able to eat until next
week! Tomorrow, I head home for the weekend after my 2 PM
treatment,
weather permitting. The forecast is for up to 10" of snow along
the way with some freezing rain/sleet.
However, it should be ending before I get on the road.
Pictures this week are close-ups of the monitoring/control monitors. The first one is for the treatment control.
I don't really know exactly what happens at each of these positions,
but I was told that the one below serves as a fourth check to make
sure things are going the right way.
This last position is where the physicist sits and controls the beam to make sure it's centered along the path.
The above pictures are really an eye test. I think I need my eyes replaced!
Later, Bob
======
update 2/5/08 - Greetings all! Another milestone: today's treatment (#33) marks the 3/4 way point through the treatments. It would have been yesterday, but the beam was down on Monday. If there are no more delays, I will finish on 2/22. I've spent my spare time playing Photoshop and reading as well as watching a little TV and a few DVDs. I've already sent pictures of most everything, but here are a couple more of the uninteresting ones:
The first is a picture of the video monitor in the control room. That is not me, but the guy who stayed across the hall getting x-rayed for precise positioning. He finished his treatments on Tuesday.
Now, the ultimate in uninteresting: the changing room.
Well, I'll get back to one of my favorite pastimes: eating goodies while reading diet and health books! Later, Bob
=========
update 2/14/08
Greetings all,
Happy Valentine's Day. Today was treatment 38, 6 more to go. I will be headed home for the weekend after tomorrow's treatment.
Then it will just be one more week to go. Not much exciting to report for this
week, but I did manage to get a few pictures to send your way: This is the nurses' station.
They are a very serious bunch!
Next is a picture of a 19th century cemetery on the campus grounds.
The next picture shows the swimming pools and diving platforms a couple of blocks away. Yes, there is water in the pools, but no one is swimming these days.
No one skating today, either. Well, it is Winter Vacation (WITHOUT PALM TREES)!!!
The next update will be sent out on 2/22 when I'm done here and I get
home.
Later, Bob
=========
update 2/22/08 - Greetings all,
Well, I am now back home after spending 10 weeks in beautiful Bloomington, IN.
My appointment on Monday was canceled since the beam was down again. I was able to get a make-up on Thursday -- two
treatments, 6 hours apart. The last treatment was this morning. I need to have check-ups every 3 months for 2 years, alternating between MPRI
in Bloomington and my urologist at home. After that, if things look good, the check-ups will be less frequent.
The trip home went OK despite freezing rain for the first part of the trip.
Below is a "class picture" of yours truly with all those who treated me. I don't recall seeing that technician on the stairs before.
I'm
told that he only appears in pictures. Apparently, a number of years ago, he was lost in the bowels of the facility after stumbling through
the radiation beam. His disappearance is used as an example to new personnel to watch their step and stay away from the beam.
Among the people here he is fondly referred to as --the precedent.
I'd like to thank all those who took the time to read these updates
and especially those who kept in contact via email, phone, and Skype.
Bob, N0BIX
=========
The technician in question on the stairs looks suspiciously like an IOOK
President.
Is it possible your treatment was just an IOOK Technology Center experiment?
73 de NN3V ...-.-
