DEATH TO CANCER! Part II - The Plan
Ladies & Gentlemen! This is the EDUCATIONAL portion of the blog!
Here are the step-by-step instructions of how to perform a focal cryotherapy procedure. (I thought about sending this to my doctor, along with a reminder about NO HORSES, just in case he needs a bit of help. But then I did not. He is, you know, stabbing instruments into some very delicate parts of my body. So I chose not to be a sarcastic butt head.)
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. (THANK GOODNESS!!!!)
The patient is in lithotomy position. (See the picture below. And the part about general anesthesia above).
Briefly, the equipment utilized includes the cryotherapy console coupled with an ultrasound system, argon and helium gas bottles, cryoprobes, temperature probes and an urethral warming catheter. TOYS!!! You don't have to have a medical diploma to see that these would be FUN to play with! (Picture below)
The procedure starts with a real-time trans-rectal prostate ultrasound, which is used to outline the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall. The use of the words "real-time" makes it sound like a show! Translated, what this is saying is that the doctor will take a look at my inwards from inside my butt. (See the bit about anesthesia above.....)
The cryoprobes are pretested and placed in to the prostate through the perineum, following a grid template, along with the temperature sensors under ultrasound guidance. Translation: The doc jabs the cryoprobe through my crotch and into my prostate. He uses a grid built from work he did on my biopsy. Interesting stuff for sure. But this demands incredible precision, which this doc has. When he doesn't have broken ribs from being bucked off a horse.
A cystoscopy confirms the right positioning of the needles. This is a camera shoved into the Urethra. I had this done WITHOUT general anesthesia early in the searching-for-cancer process. I'm quite sure it will be much more comfortable under general anesthesia.
The urethral warming catheter is installed. You don't want to freeze the urethra or I'll never pee straight again!
Thereafter, the freeze sequence with argon gas is started, achieving extremely low temperatures (-40°C) to induce tumor cell lysis. I have no idea what that means. But Google does: "noun, the disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane." In other words. KILL THE CANCER CELLS.
Also, INTERESTING SCIENCE ALERT!!! Did you know that -40 degrees Celsius is the same as -40 degrees Fahrenheit? Camping anyone??
Sequentially, the thawing cycle is performed using helium gas. Gonna make them cancer cells laugh??
This process is repeated one time.
It will take about 90 minutes. And then I will wake up with NO CANCER!
Every good success starts with a plan. Now you know ours! Go Cryotherapy Team!!
GAME FACE!! FREAKIN' CANCER HAS NO CHANCE!!!
Lithotomy Position Will I flatulate on the doctor while I'm asleep? is the real question.
The Doctor's fun Cryotherapy toys.
Here are the step-by-step instructions of how to perform a focal cryotherapy procedure. (I thought about sending this to my doctor, along with a reminder about NO HORSES, just in case he needs a bit of help. But then I did not. He is, you know, stabbing instruments into some very delicate parts of my body. So I chose not to be a sarcastic butt head.)
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. (THANK GOODNESS!!!!)
The patient is in lithotomy position. (See the picture below. And the part about general anesthesia above).
Briefly, the equipment utilized includes the cryotherapy console coupled with an ultrasound system, argon and helium gas bottles, cryoprobes, temperature probes and an urethral warming catheter. TOYS!!! You don't have to have a medical diploma to see that these would be FUN to play with! (Picture below)
The procedure starts with a real-time trans-rectal prostate ultrasound, which is used to outline the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall. The use of the words "real-time" makes it sound like a show! Translated, what this is saying is that the doctor will take a look at my inwards from inside my butt. (See the bit about anesthesia above.....)
The cryoprobes are pretested and placed in to the prostate through the perineum, following a grid template, along with the temperature sensors under ultrasound guidance. Translation: The doc jabs the cryoprobe through my crotch and into my prostate. He uses a grid built from work he did on my biopsy. Interesting stuff for sure. But this demands incredible precision, which this doc has. When he doesn't have broken ribs from being bucked off a horse.
A cystoscopy confirms the right positioning of the needles. This is a camera shoved into the Urethra. I had this done WITHOUT general anesthesia early in the searching-for-cancer process. I'm quite sure it will be much more comfortable under general anesthesia.
The urethral warming catheter is installed. You don't want to freeze the urethra or I'll never pee straight again!
Thereafter, the freeze sequence with argon gas is started, achieving extremely low temperatures (-40°C) to induce tumor cell lysis. I have no idea what that means. But Google does: "noun, the disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane." In other words. KILL THE CANCER CELLS.
Also, INTERESTING SCIENCE ALERT!!! Did you know that -40 degrees Celsius is the same as -40 degrees Fahrenheit? Camping anyone??
Sequentially, the thawing cycle is performed using helium gas. Gonna make them cancer cells laugh??
This process is repeated one time.
It will take about 90 minutes. And then I will wake up with NO CANCER!
Every good success starts with a plan. Now you know ours! Go Cryotherapy Team!!
GAME FACE!! FREAKIN' CANCER HAS NO CHANCE!!!
Lithotomy Position Will I flatulate on the doctor while I'm asleep? is the real question.
The Doctor's fun Cryotherapy toys.
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