2nd Week Radiation Treatment
Here I am going into the second week of radiation treatments. Some how I have found new confidence that is easy to keep an empty bowel and full bladder for the 10 minutes of radiation treatment. For me, my business sense helps in calculating the science: take my appointment time, back track 1 hour to fill the bladder, and drink hard for the 15 minutes prior to this 1 hour time. By drinking hard, I mean at least 4 to 5 bottles of water, and maybe some juice to top it off. BabaBoom... wait the 1 hour for the bladder to fill and by appointment time, I'm hard as a rock and ready to go. Now do this 5 days in a row!! ;)
I have come to know the radiation therapists and techicians on a first name basis. They even tried to trick me with two of the therapist who have same hair style and colour, and same style of glasses, but one is Janet and one is Lynn. Trick me once, and probably trick me a few more times. Janet is the therapist that loves cats too.
There is a system to getting into the radiation treatment machine. First, I need to provide my date of birth and address to verify it is me, even though they have a picture on file of me. Yup, it's me!! Next, we all head into the room where the radiation treatment machine is located. I get up on the machine, the technicians get me into the leg device to support my legs during the treatment, and strap me down to the table. This is to keep me very still. I am giving a plastic blue ring to hold so that my arms are up out of the way of the treatment. Sometimes I feel tense, and other times I'm able to relax. The therapist and technicians call out the table measurements, and measure me, and verify all this information twice. They are really professional, and I appreciate this fact since they are aiming a Class 1M laser between my bowel and bladder. Once I am set up in the machine, measurements verified, they all leave the room. One of the technicians always says, "Here we go", so I know it's show time.
They have a radio in the room, so as the machine whirls around me, clicking and humming treatment at me. I am counting songs playing on the radio. A song is about 4 minutes long, my treatment is for 10 minutes, so therefore I should listen to approximate 2 1/2 songs. It varies if the radio announcer is talking between songs. If I concentrate on the radio and the songs, the treatment goes really fast. The first couple treatments I was thinking hard: when is this machine going to stop, when are they going to come get me... when are they going to come get me!! And then, I hear one of the technicans back into the room, and say, "all done." Relief, and I get my clothes reassembled, and thank them and wish them a great day... and off to the washroom to finally relieve my bladder. That is the end of radiation treatment for the day.
Below is a picture of a radiation therapy treatment machine, but mine also has two large square parts that come out and whirl around me. If you click on the picture, it will take you to the Canada.com website, Health section which explains the radiation therapy more in depth.
I have come to know the radiation therapists and techicians on a first name basis. They even tried to trick me with two of the therapist who have same hair style and colour, and same style of glasses, but one is Janet and one is Lynn. Trick me once, and probably trick me a few more times. Janet is the therapist that loves cats too.
There is a system to getting into the radiation treatment machine. First, I need to provide my date of birth and address to verify it is me, even though they have a picture on file of me. Yup, it's me!! Next, we all head into the room where the radiation treatment machine is located. I get up on the machine, the technicians get me into the leg device to support my legs during the treatment, and strap me down to the table. This is to keep me very still. I am giving a plastic blue ring to hold so that my arms are up out of the way of the treatment. Sometimes I feel tense, and other times I'm able to relax. The therapist and technicians call out the table measurements, and measure me, and verify all this information twice. They are really professional, and I appreciate this fact since they are aiming a Class 1M laser between my bowel and bladder. Once I am set up in the machine, measurements verified, they all leave the room. One of the technicians always says, "Here we go", so I know it's show time.
They have a radio in the room, so as the machine whirls around me, clicking and humming treatment at me. I am counting songs playing on the radio. A song is about 4 minutes long, my treatment is for 10 minutes, so therefore I should listen to approximate 2 1/2 songs. It varies if the radio announcer is talking between songs. If I concentrate on the radio and the songs, the treatment goes really fast. The first couple treatments I was thinking hard: when is this machine going to stop, when are they going to come get me... when are they going to come get me!! And then, I hear one of the technicans back into the room, and say, "all done." Relief, and I get my clothes reassembled, and thank them and wish them a great day... and off to the washroom to finally relieve my bladder. That is the end of radiation treatment for the day.
Below is a picture of a radiation therapy treatment machine, but mine also has two large square parts that come out and whirl around me. If you click on the picture, it will take you to the Canada.com website, Health section which explains the radiation therapy more in depth.
Thanks for the update Susan. Keep you chin up and your spirits high. You can do this!! Pete can relate much more than me and hopefully I don’t ever have to experience what you are going through.
ReplyDeleteThank you Max. I appreciate your following my blog. Hugs to you and Pete.
ReplyDeleteI hope your side effects are minimal Keep up the good fight!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacey. Today I was very tired, so I had two naps! We had some chunky chicken soup for supper, and that helped perk me up for a bit. I am doing ok. I like it best when we have sunny days. I am keeping up the good fight, for sure!! :)
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Susan. Wishing you well. I understand you have met a good friend of mine. Her name is Mary Kazur. She will be down in Sudbury soon having Chemo and radiation therapy. She told me she has met you. I think your way of coping with radiation is awesome. Thrilled you have found away of passing the time. Hugs coming your way.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Susan,
ReplyDeleteI have read all your posts. You are doing awesome, keep up the positive outlook and I am sure you will be rewarded. Cancer can be beat and if anyone can do it, you would be the one! I miss your smile and wish I hadn't moved so far away. My parents both passed away from cancer my Dad in 2008 and my Mom in 2016. I get checked regularly but always expect that it will be bad news. I rely on your posts to keep me going. Keep writing Sue, always thinking about you, and have never forgotten our brief time together. I miss the simpler days.
Love You Sue,
Rick
I'm glad that I could meet Mary. It's not a very easy journey, but we have to find the light in the situation. I have a couple more weeks in Sudbury, so hopefully our time will overlapse so we can visit some more.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rick. I'm so sorry that you had to lose your parents to cancer. It is so hard when you are in a position of helplessness, like so many family members are watching their loved one go through the battle. You are wise to continue with regular check ups because early detection can make a huge difference. I was lucky to have my cancer found when I did. You just never know, so enjoy life to the fullest of your abilities. Having good times to look back on, and the freedom and vigor of our youth can help so much during the dark days. Thank you for reminding of those good times. Like when the dog ate the seat off Mark's snow machine... ;)
ReplyDelete