FCKuCANCER.

so today was round 5 and so far so good. i’ve been tired, but i’m always tired these days. i don’t think it has a damned thing to do with radiation, yet.

this time around things are a bit different than the first, from what i remember. 1 – they did not let me pick my own music. must be too many patients with quick turnarounds to keep up with all the requests. which is a very sobering thought. 2 – i have to hold my breath various times throughout and some are easier than others. there are about three breath holds that i always find very difficult. either way, i don’t recall having to do the breath holds before but maybe i just pushed that to the back of my mind.

what hasn’t changed is that i have to meet one tech at the desk outside of the room and confirm my name, dob & what area of my body is getting treated. all of the monitors look like i’m about to enter a spaceship, which i guess isn’t that far from the truth when you think about it.

here’s a pic of the desk. no idea why it looks like there are red areas on my scan, it doesn’t look like that on my phone, nor does it irl, the xray is just black and white…

i did record today’s session, but i honestly don’t think this recording is much different than the one i posted in 2020. it is at a different angle. this one all you see is my feet and the machines circling around me. i’m supposed to wiggle my feet like crazy if i need something so the techs can stop the machine and come in. they view me on the two screens below the monitors on the desk.

also, i know it doesn’t look like much, but here is a picture of the beanbag cast thingy that they made for me to lie on every time. that, plus the sticker markers strategically placed on my body, help to ensure i am in the same position each time. the two handles sticking out at the top center are what i hold onto during the entire session.

here’s a snippet of today’s session…

the actual radiation sessions don’t last very long. once a week, after one of the sessions, i will have an appointment to meet with the radiation oncologist so he can monitor my skin and any reactions or irritations that may arise in addition to answering any questions that i may have.

not too bad. five sessions down, eleven more to go.

fin.