Thursday May 1, 2008

Radiation Treatment #6

Happy MayDay! I have visions of spring flowers in yellows, blues, reds, pinks, and whites, clean greens, and blue skies with white puffy clouds. Air that smells fresh and moist, birds singing and very busy flying from the ground to the trees. Children playing outside, running and laughing at their outdoor freedom...

It's definitely spring here with all of the above in my world.

I got up and went to the radiation center this morning. Daniel was still sound asleep when I left. As I turned the corner into the waiting area, Lisa was explaining to another woman what to do--go into the change room, undress from the waist up, put on a gown tied in back, then come out and put your things in a locker.... I could see that she was a bit overwhelmed; I recognized the glazed-eye look. As Lisa was explaining this, I jumped into another change room and changed myself. It was 8:30, my appointment time. Ron (the other male technician) was there with a chart waiting for her. I looked at the clock--I said "take me, it's 8:32, and you know we're quick... She's not even done changing yet..." He looked at me, looked at the change room door, and she came out. Then she had to put her things in the locker. He said he couldn't do that, that the machine was already set up for her, blah, blah. Ok, I said. And I asked him what the intervals are for scheduling--10 minutes or 15. He said they were 10 minute intervals. The new lady was still working on the key and getting her things into the locker, so I asked, very politely, if there happened to be an opening at 8:40 or 8:50, or maybe even 9:00, could I move up?? Maybe not this week, but could we keep that in mind?? Sure, he said, no problem. He went over to help the new lady with getting the key out of the locker door, and escorted her back.

Ok. I stood there in the waiting room, and Elaine and I worked on the puzzle. After 10 minutes or so, Lisa came out for me and walked me back. I met the other lady coming down the hallway. I tried to put a friendly look on my face, smiled, and asked her if it went ok, she just looked shell-shocked and said yes.

I got into the room, hopped onto the table, laid down, Ron said they were going to "take an image" today. Ok, I said, I want to see it. Ok, he says, and he and Lisa are behind the wall. Click, click, the machine moves into position. It makes its noises--I can't tell which are the imaging noises and which is the dosage noise, other than the dosage noise was probably the longer one. The machine clicks off, moves around, Lisa runs (well, walks quickly) out and slips the metal plate onto the arm, and puts the gown back up over my breast (it had been left uncovered), and you know I'm not supposed to move.... I thanked her for covering me, as the hot flash had passed. She laughed as she went around the wall, and the machine clicked and buzzed, clicked off, and I was done. Lisa came out to put the table down and help me up, and I went around behind the wall and asked Ron to see the image. Oh, yeah, he said, and pulled it up. There were two images on the screen; one was the original CT scan, and the other was the one they just took to compare for positioning. I didn't get a real good look, because the next patient was on the way back. Ok, Thanks Ron. Oh, he said. How about 8:40 tomorrow? Great, I said, and 8:40 forever?? Yep, he replies. Good, I said, Thank you. I appreciate it. See you tomorrow....

I changed my clothes and headed home. Daniel was up, but complaining of pain in his left scapula. He had that yesterday, too, and I suggested that he see the chiropractor, but he didn't... So now, today, he's unable to coordinate his schedule with the doctor's. I have breakfast and get on with my day. He tells me he's feeling better after a couple of hours. Good.

I'm kind of sleepy after a while, and I take a bit of a rest. Daniel leaves for his umpiring job. I get up after 45 minutes or so, and have something to eat.

A little while later, I decide to go out for my exercise. I change clothes and go out into the neighborhood, and jog. I got about halfway around, maybe a little further, and walked the rest of the way except for the last couple blocks. I came in and showered. I slathered the aloe vera gel on my breast--it's just slightly discolored, and tender inside. Daniel got home a little while ago. We visited, I wrote here, and it's time to go to bed.

Thank you all for reading, I appreciate that you are out there supporting me. Hugs.