Proton machinery breakdowns

[Guest guest]

The Houston and ville proton centers are newer (summer of 2006

activation) but that does not guarantee the " breakdowns " will not

occur. These are amazingly complex machines with advanced systems and

sophisticated computer controls. The Loma synchrotron and all

the supporting systems have been upgraded over the years, and are

designed with upgrade capability built in. At times there will be a

" run " of " Beam Down " instances either for one particular treatment

room (there are four) or a common failure. I went through nine weeks

of proton treatment, one per day, five times a week, and only " missed "

one day due to machine outage, and the complete machine was down that

day. (A " missed " treatment is simply added on at the end.)

My point is that the " newer " machines are just as likely to experience

outages with a system this complex as the ones that have been around

longer. Maybe even more so!

Fuller

>

> Bill,

>

> Regarding Sonny's " left then right " scenario for Loma Protons,

> be aware that three of the four treatment rooms at LLUMC have a

> " gantry " which can target you at any angle your Radiation Oncologist

> chooses. I have an artificial hip and got my 42 fractions by " two from

> the left and one from the rear " and repeated 14 times over a two month

> period.

>

> With a Gleason of 6 you might try MD in Houston as their

> equipment is newer and probably does not break down near as often as

> the Loma equipment fails.

>

> Best of Luck

> Phil

>