Yesterday, Mark was taken to surgery around 1:30 pm and didn't return until 5:30 pm. When he got back, he had been in recovery for a while, so he was awake and aware of the pain, which was intense. Several doses of Dialadin helped take the edge off. This morning he felt better but not as good as hoped. The surgeon who performed the procedure visited us today and explained that the duct was tight even before getting to the blockage, so it took a lot of maneuvering. The stent was placed, and he wanted to place a second one but couldn't do so. Once the tumor is radiated, it should be easier to go in.
This morning Mark had the mapping done of the pancreas area to be radiated. Because he was so good at taking instructions and being very still, he was done in about an hour. Also, he did not have to have his arms above his head, so it was much more comfortable. Being strapped in tight caused a bit of claustrophobia, but the Ativan and some effective self-talk got him through.
Providence Portland Radiology is the only place in the Pacific Northwest with the new MRI-Linac machine used today for the simulation and will be used to administer radiation. There are only four in the US.
MR-Linac: Precision Radiation Therapy Cancer Treatment Comes to Providence
In 2020 the Robert W. Franz Cancer Institute will bring the first MR-Linac to the Pacific Northwest. One of few cancer centers in the world to be working with this cutting-edge technology, Providence Cancer Institute shows their commitment to helping patients fight cancer with the best treatments available.
For specific tumor types such as non-metastatic pancreatic, liver, and prostate cancer, it is extremely important to track the internal movement happening during your cancer treatment. While you breathe, swallow or digest food, your internal organs move. This movement, even if barely noticeable, causes your tumor to constantly change its location. Standard radiation cancer care treats anywhere the tumor might move to during treatment, including the surrounding healthy tissue and organs. Unlike standard radiation care, the MR-Linac allows your doctor to track, and dose, your tumor in real time, greatly decreasing the amount of radiation to healthy tissue and organs. This means your tumor can receive a stronger cancer destroying radiation treatment, while at the same time decreasing the negative side effects.
"This technology allows us to track the movements and monitor changes in shape of the target and surrounding organs so that we can modify the radiation beams to fit the picture of the moment, not yesterday's. It permits stronger, shorter, more effective treatments to be delivered with potentially less complications," according to Dr. Steven Seung, M.D., FACR, Ph.D., Providence Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Medical Director.
How exciting to have the opportunity to be a recipient of this cutting-edge technology.
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