I got my first radiation treatment today -- the first of 12, each of them fairly low dose at 24 GRay apiece. I'll get these treatments Monday-Friday. I met with the local radiation oncologist the week before collection, but she didn't know yet whether or not she would need to radiate my esophagus, something I'd feared very much. The strictures resulting from my childhood poisoning, and the subsequent heavy radiation I got slammed with all the thousands of X-rays I got throughout my childhood, put me at significant risk for developing esophageal cancer, so it's a real blessing that I won't have to have it radiated now and increasing my risk further. Yay!! I'm just so relieved!!
I didn't talk about it last week, but in the name of at least a nod to Radiation 101, I had to have a mask made which is used to hold my head in place during treatment. They marked the mask so I didn't have to get any permanent tattoos or get Sharpie marks on my skin. That's nice, because a lot of folks end up with the tattoos so the technicians don't have to mark the precise spots every day. The mask is pretty freaky, though. They soak this piece of plastic with lots of tiny holes in hot water and then, while you're lying on your back on the table they drape it all over the top of your head neck and shoulders. Then they press tightly so that it is very form-fitting and then they strap or snap (I can't tell which, I just know it's loud!) you in. The idea is that you can't move within that mask; you are held very tightly in place so they can be sure they're radiating exactly where they mean to. It's pretty freaky though. I can see that someone with claustrophobia would really struggle with this process. I do love that they mark the mask and not me, though!
The right side of my thyroid will get radiation, but not the center or the left side, so while I still run the risk of developing hypothyroidism, it's a smaller one than it could have been. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed, because of course I'd rather not have my metabolism permanently affected and all the other things impacted by a failed thyroid. I'm just going to go into this as positively as I can.
I said in my last post that I can't wait to get done with this and just get into the hospital and that still holds true. I'm resigned to getting radiation -- I never wanted it, but then I never wanted cancer either, so it's a means to an end. I just want to get on with it. My relapse date is June 21st, so we're going on 3 months now. Perfectly normal for an SCT -- but it feels almost interminably long when you're the one in it.
I just keep thinking of what lies in wait at the end of all this: a cure......and a trip to Italy with the woman I love.
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6 comments:
I'm picturing you both in Italy. Rome, beautiful weather, history in layers around you.
godspeed to you and this treacherous journey we call cancer.
italy is MY FAVORITE country; granted, I was born and raised in chicago, and have been only to france, italy and spain, and various beach vacations. but once I set foot in italy, WOW.... do keep smiling sara!
Howie'd freak in a mask like that; the poor guy couldn't handle the MRI, let alone being strapped in place so he truly couldn't move.
OK, this is horrible, but I'm picturing you kind of like Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs...Mask on, eyes darting, and something wickedly ironic coming out of your mouth.
Okay, enough of that. It is GREAT you can have a mask and avoid the tattoos. And wonderful they don't have to mess with your esophagus -- yay is right!
We're camping for a few days, so I had to catch up on your latest before we head out in the morning. Love you both!
I've gained nearly 50 pounds since just before my thyroid mess was diagnosed. As soon as you see the slightest bit of change in your metabolism, get on the docs hard. I'm not sure why they aren't taking my complaints seriously and I'm still fighting them on this, but there should be things that can be done. Synthroid is the most common fix (although not everyone reacts properly to it, says the voice of experience) and is a very inexpensive tiny pill that tastes kinda good.
Hang in there. My internet's been really wonky for about a month, but seems to be fixed now. I've been thinking about you way more than I've been able to sign on and say. Let me know if I can help with anything - even just thyroid questions.
Stumbled across your blog. I admire your determination and spirit. It is inspirational. Love from Canada.
Wouldn't let me comment to the post above (weird) but yes, radiation is nothing compared to chemo (which I didn't have to do). I also had a much simpler round of radiation than you do, but I remember calling people and saying "look to Baltimore - see that green glow? That's ME!"
They claimed my dose of radiation had very very few side effects (they kept saying "extremely extremely rare, and even then only in cases much more severe than yours") but I couldn't even look at water, and I spent the days with my face in a pillow listening to tv because just watching the fancy moving pictures made me carsick beyond belief.
But all in all it's cake, compared to the alternatives.
Hang in there, and take them seriously about the pain killers. The body heals faster when it can focus on the problem, and not on the pain.
Still thinking of you so often...
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