Graduation day has arrived and they allowed me to take a couple of pics.
This is the Varian Rapidarc Machine. The two wings on the side deploy and do a quick low power xray, it also has a CT scanner built in. These are used to assure the position of the gland. The table then moves to to get you into the exact position down to the 1mm level before the beams are turned on. The Prostate can move 1/2" up or down at any given time. The room is called the vault, and is sealed by 4 lead lined doors.
There are lasers in the walls and ceiling. They use them to line up three tattoos, one on each hip and one over the gland. The Therapists use those markers to get me into approximate position before the scan. After this they must leave the room. I can speak to them and they to me. They also can see me on video monitors.
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Once I am lined up and the Therapists start the treatment, the machine rotates first in one direction and then the other. The machine can fire from thousands of angles, the beamletes are shaped by tungsten leafs that change depending on the angle of the machine. The level of intensity of the beamlet also changes during this arc. The idea is to limit exposure to surrounding organs, while ensuring full coverage of the gland and some surrounding tissues.
The radiation comes through the head, inside the center square the metal leafs shape the beamlets.
This is the special outfit you wear during treatment. Yes it is full commando.
These are my Angels/Therapists that set me up on the table and operate and monitor the machine. We spent 48 days together. I will miss them, but not the process. They were kind enough not to laugh during wardrobe malfunctions.
