Radiation - Week One

Last week was the first week of radiation.   It certainly is a big change from chemo.

In addition to far less severe side effects, I can now drive myself to and from therapy.   Although wait times can be a nightmare,  the actual radiation lasts only a few minutes. And there are no needles involved.

How does it work?  Every Thursday,  I get my appointments for the following week. Upon arrival,  I scan myself in, change into a hospital gown and wait to be called.....

And some days, I wait a long time....

The hospital tries to schedule as many people as possible.   That's a great idea if everyone arrives on time and actually lie still for whatever amount of time required to complete their treatment.  That is often not the case.  Technicians can spend a good 10 - 15 minutes to line someone up for their treatment, only to have the person move or suddenly have an urgent need to run to the washroom.   I also heard most people ask for morning appointments and often that is when the back logs occur.  I asked to be scheduled towards the end of the day, thinking most scheduling issues would be resolved and it also wouldn't disrupt my work day.  After the second day of waiting approximately an hour for a ten minute treatment, I began to wonder if I made a mistake.

Then on the days I do not wait for a machine I still ponder if I made the right choice of requesting end of day appointments, as I sit in rush hour traffic.

I can't win

The machine is in a large, cold room and the technicians' hands are equally as cold.  They adjust me on the bed, lining up my tattoos to the machine.   The same machine is used each time to ensure I receive as close as possible the exact same treatment every time.   I'm machine lucky #7.

Once I am lined up, that's it.  No moving.   Murphy's Law dictates that is about the same time I get an itch. There has been at least one instance where I have asked one of the Technicians to scratch my cheek or rub my eye.

I say the same thing every time the Technicians leave the leave the room.  "If you need me, I'll be here."  I think its worth a smile.  Once the actual radiation process starts, the arm of the machine rotates from side to side, stopping about 3-4 times over the area and emits radiation.  Its hard to explain - Although I don't feel anything; I do at the same time, feel like a wave passing over the area.  Its very hard to explain. The whole process takes maybe 5-7 minutes.

Usually, while lying there, I use the time to practice my meditation. Imagining your breathing patterns as a circular motion or focusing on how your breath suspends in between inhales/exhales should take your mind of any itches or urges to pee.  However, Technicians can see and hear me from the other room and I am very tempted to serenade the team.  The only song that has popped into my head so far is Donna Summer's Hot Stuff.  Don't ask me why.

Maybe I should post a request on Facebook asking for jokes.