So I had RT in Germany in late June with Prof S. Great! His setup has your hand rest on a foam pad that looks like a piece of cake laid on it's side. Your hand is positioned, the bolus put on top and then your hand is raised to go directly under a frame. The frame holds the lead shield. Essentially your hand is under a slight amount of pressure from the frame and so the area to be radiated is as flat as can be without pressing it under something like flat Plexiglas or a pane of glass. The bolus is also pressed into the hand slightly.

So for my second round I looked into having it done locally knowing that I could always back out and head to Germany. I went in for my pre-procedure meeting and sizing and they explained that my hand will rest on again foam cut like a piece of cake and a bolus will be put on top. However, the cut out lead shield they are making will go into a frame and my hand will rest 5 cm below the lead shield. So, no pressure from the frame to flatten out my hand or to press the bolus into all the dips in my hand.

Should I be concerned about this setup? If so, why? Does the bolus need to touch all points to be radiated to be effective?

If you have had RT in Germany and then back home and had a similar setup how did it turn out for you?

All opinions quickly expressed as I am due in next Monday greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
MikeNinerSeven

Hi I had Rt in 2007 by Prof Seegenschmiedt then in Essen and using an old Orthovoltage Rt X ray machine. I believe that the machine in Hamburg is the latest Cyberknife Rt machine . The cut out was placed over my hand and the bolus then positioned on top of the cut out. The unit that is to be used on you is probably a linear accelerator Rt machine, which will project the beam at 90 degrees to the surface. I would just ask a couple of questions about the machine and the process. Do a google search to satisfy yourself. I would be more worried if there was no cut out to be used. The prof. took a digital photo of the set up and I also received a copy of the report. In Germany they say 'I don't want to be the guinea pig ' and in Australia we say the same as the Canadians 'we don't want to be the bunny'

Edited 09/09/14 13:14

Lanod,

Thank-you for responding. I just needed to know that I was not getting a really jury rigged setup. I have learned through life that the devil is in the details and small things count. I do not want to have to do this a third time if it can be avoided. I appreciate your feedback on the situation and will now rest easier knowing that the setup is normal for DD.

Thanks again,
Mike