I Am Linda

Alien adventures

Last Friday, 7/14, I had another pre-radiation appointment where I actually visted the radiation room. It was weird.

I think I've been watching too much science fiction because it looked like one of those rooms you seen on a space ship where aliens perform experiments on terrified, abducted humans.  Inside a very big room is a narrow table (how do big people fit on that thing?) with a huge, futuristic looking machine attached at one end.

The machine has a large round 'eye' that emits a laser looking light.  It looks like it has the potential to move 180 degrees around me (that's my best guess since my vantage point is somewhat restricted while lying flat on my back) as the technician makes her adjustments. 

The room itself has computers and cameras on the walls with a big red light that buzzes and flashes, in red, BEAM ON, when they turn on the zapper.  Usually everyone has vacated the premises when that happens - except me, of course.  That's comforting.

We shot some pictures (I'm not quite sure what types of pictures - that's one for my question list) that Dr. Sinopoly will review to determine if everything is OK to get started.  Once again I was marked up with a sharpie pen.  This time I was asked to not remove the marks over the weekend.

Sure - between the sweat and the showers there's no chance that will happen ;-). 

So here it is, Monday morning, and in a couple of hours I'll make the trip for my first visit.  I've heard it is uneventful.  I show up - have a treatment - and then leave.  No poking or prodding or pricking or  anything like the first part of this journey. 

Nope, none of that.  This time the only discomfort will be my skin sloughing off :-(.  But I'm trying to keep a good thought.

L

Tattoos

Once I got back from the 4th I spent some time talking to Dr. Harris' office trying to cancel my appointment for Monday the 10th.  My decision was made and I didn't see why had to tell them so face to face.  I would need to pick up a prescription (more on that at another time) but otherwise I wanted to move on. 

After a few calls I talked with Dr. Sinopoly (radiation oncology) on the morning of the 7th and after answering a list of questions I had for him he scheduled my simulation for later that day.

The simulation is the first step in the radiation process that  defines the area to be treated, calculates the angle of the beam, etc.  Lying on/in a machine that  looks like a CT scanner my arms were above my head so I couldn't really see what was going on.  It was only once I could stand up and look in the mirror that I had a chance to see what all the activity on and around my chest had been about.  I had been marked up with a sharpie pen, sticky wires and 3 tattooed dots that would  help identify the place where the machine needed to be calibrated each time I visited.

The entire process took about an hour and it was fun talking with the tech, Melanie, and Dr. Sinopoloy.  When it was over I scheduled the next follow-up procedure that would verify the measurements, angles, etc.  I also scheduled my treatments.  They will start on Monday, July 17th at 11:30 and will continue at the same time, every weekday, through August 30th.  What a summer this will be!

During the scheduling process I happened to spot a familiar name on the calendar.  It actually caught me off guard and when I asked Melanie about it she confirmed that it was, indeed, a friend I had lost contact with about a year and a half ago. Since I  don't believe in coincidence I made a call to her immediately upon returning home.  Imagine my surprise when she answered the phone.

"I've been thinking about you," she said.  "How lucky for me that I decided to come home for lunch today." (Luck - that is not what I would call it.  More like a sychronous event).  To protect her privacy I  simply said it had been too long and we should get together to catch up.  It was then that she came right out and told me..."I had breast cancer."  I couldn't help myself.  I blurted out..."Me too!"

We scheduled lunch!