Radiation for Dummies or Radiation 101

I took my camera to my radiation treatments this week so I could share the experience. Many have asked what the machine is like and how it feels, etc. So I have some examples with me in position. As I described before the treatment portion takes very little time. I am probably in the room for 10 minutes or so. It takes them longer to get me into the exact position than it does to do the treatments. First I lie down on the table with my head and arms in the mold.
They but a bolster under my knees and tie my feet together so that I won't accidently move during the process. Remember I got
three tiny tatoos in June during my set up session. They use these and all the instruments to get me aligned with the beams. The table moves up and down and sideways. The technicians call out numbers to line the table and me up correctly. Sometimes they manually move my torso a bit. Then they leave the room. That big, heavy door closes then the radiation comes in short 10 or 15 second intervals... I don't feel a thing - just hear a buzzing sound. A red "warning" light also flashes during this time. After about 5 shots from one side (where you see me in the picture) the machine rotates to my other side - almost level with the table and I get a few more doses. That's it.

The machine can take x-rays, shoot protons and electrons and also do a CT scan to verify exact positioning. They don't use the CT on me. (The techies told me that is mostly used for radiation on brain cancer patients.) They have been using protons thus far to treat my cancer area. During the last five days of the process I will receive what they call an external radiation boost. This targets the area directly around where my surgery was and uses electrons. I have my last protron treatment on Monday and then we switch for 5 treatments to the skin. So, its "One machine does all" kind of like the fax/printer/copier machines. And it the very latest technology. There are often visitors coming to check out the newest radiation equipment. It feels great to know that I am getting the best treatment that exists.

I get an x-ray done each week and they verify their measurements to make sure I am still getting "roasted" in the correct places. I see the Doctor every Thursday where I get to tell her how horrible I feel and she says she is sorry. I get lab work done every other week to make sure that my white blood count doesn't drop too low. It has dropped a bit - but not bad. I just have to stay away from sick people again like during chemo. My skin is tightening and thus squeezing everything - worse than ever. My skin is irritated, I am irritable, I am incredibly tired and sometimes irrational... just ask Mark. But I am almost done. Only 6 more treatments... last day is Monday, August 17th. Don't know what I will do with myself when I don't have to go to radiation every day... recover maybe. In terms of my hair... I think it is growing faster on my legs than on my head. My niece says I "look like a very cute urban woman turned Buddhist! Very hip looking." Not exactly what I was going for but not bad.

I have been told that I look "radiant" by one friend as soon I was finished ... it took me a second to get her joke. Our neighbors have also told us they can detect a certain "glow" coming from our end of the street. Enough already!

There are two photos of the technicians whom we/they have named the "Cancer Assassins". A photo that shows me "in position" ready for treatment and in the top photo you can see the mold that holds my head and arm as well as the equipment.

Disclaimer: Anything I wrote in the column may not be accurate... I have not been trained well enough to understand the entire radiation process.