The Treatment Plan

I will start radiation therapy on July 21. The type of radiation I'm having is called Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy/Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy. I'll be having the treatment in West Chester at Precision Radiotherapy, which is associated with University Hospital. The treatments will take place daily from Monday through Friday.


Here are some details from Precision Radiotherapy's website:


Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSR) delivers radiation over many visits and uses stereotaxis to precisely locate the target and accurately reposition the patient for each treatment session. Until recently, fractionation was not possible using stereotaxis because there was no way to keep the rigid frame in place after the first treatment session. Repositionable masks and molds along with x-ray and infrared positioners ensure treatment accuracy, making multiple radiosurgery sessions possible. FSR offers the precision of stereotaxy for those with lesions near critical structures that cannot tolerate high doses. Patients return daily over several weeks to receive the complete radiation dose.





I will wear a mask during treatment. The mask fits tightly to my face and head to allow for very precise laser, infrared and x-ray body tracking. Intensity Modulated Radio Therapy (IMRT) will deliver radiation beams in multiple arcs, similar to 3D conformal. It uses sophisticated inverse planning software and multileaf collimators to both shape the radiation beam and change the intensity within each beam to deliver the optimum dose.





Radiation beams can be shaped by attaching blocks or collimators to the radiation machine to block a portion of the beam (similar to placing your finger in the path of a flashlight to cast a shadow). The goal is to shape the beam to the exact contour of the tumor and minimize exposure to normal tissue. Block devices shape the beam in a linear fashion and are only able to squarely shape the beam. Collimator devices are able to shape the beam into circular or elliptical shapes Multileaf collimators can focus and shape the beam in infinite ways and are the most precise method at this time.





If you are interested in more details - visit Precision Radiation's website at http://www.precisionradiotherapy.com/. My treatment will be on the Novalis machine.





Finally - here's a picture of me being fitted for my treatment mask.

The mask was made of sheets of plastic. The techs first put a shower cap over my hair. Next, they placed the sheet of plastic into warm water, and put that into a molded head rest. Then, I laid down, and they placed pieces of warmed plastic material on a couple of places on my face, and gave me one to bite into. Finally, they placed another warmed sheet of plastic over the top of my face, and pressed it around my face. These pictures were taken while I waited for it to cool. After it cooled, and was removed, targets were placed on the mask. The mask fits into a head rest, which is securely attached to a treatment table. The final step of the day was to have a CT scan while in the mask. When I have radiation treatment, this mask will keep me from moving, and the targets on the mask will guide the beams.

The mask might make a great Halloween costume when this is all done!

I continue to be grateful for much prayer and support. As treatment date approaches, and the list of to-do items gets shorter I do find it hard sometimes not to dwell in fear. Please pray that I will remember:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

- 2 Timothy 1:7

To More Faith,

Amy