Re-Do Day one of Radiation

Hi guys

Today was a successful first day of Radiation Therapy - I survived!

Calculations

On Wednesday, I was scheduled to start Radiation.  I showed up at the scheduled time, changed, and was ready to conquer the unknown.  I was taken in to the Radiation room, which is more like a 2 foot think concrete bunker, and I hopped up on the table.  This is what the machine looks like.

Two Radiation techs work together to move my position juuuuuust right.  The whole idea is to re-create the exact same position that I was in last week at my CT Scan (Where they tattooed the black dots on me. Read More HERE).  All of the calculations for my Radiation therapy were made off of this position.  The Radiation techs spent a lot of time on my positioning.  Then, they ran a test with the machine.  The entire wall-mounted unit rotates around me, it is important that the machines on the wall can clear the table that I'm laying on as they rotate underneath me.  First test = fail.  Then the techs work to re-position me again.... Fail.  They called in the Dose doctor who started re-calculating the positioning, and the height of my table.  The more they raise my table, the more the angles of the radiation are off.  After 7 people in the bunker with us working to re-calculate and re-position me and after FIVE pass attempts of the machine, the ALL failed.

Turns out that the CT machine where they set-up my simulation last week and gave me the tattoos, was on a much lower table than the Radiation machine that I would receive treatment on.  The calculation was 1 cm off.

I got off of the table and was told to go wait in the waiting room.  Being in a hospital gown early in the morning, I was frozen!  Lucky for me the waiting room has a heater!!

Another Radiation Doctor came into my room and told me that Dr. Dutton was on her way in and that she asked me to go home and that they would contact me in the next couple days to schedule something (next couple of days, seriously?).  I changed and went home.  Lucky for me they called that afternoon and I was scheduled to come in today (Thursday morning).

Radiation - Day 1

I was so nervous on Wednesday - it felt like the first day of school.  However, I was able to get a 'tour' of the place before my treatment.  Today, when I walked in  I felt like a pro!  Dr. Dutton was already there and her and her nurses along with the Radiation techs helped to get me positioned on the table and lined up my 'tattoos'.  Then, they ran the test and rotated the machine under my table and it worked... SUCCESS!

The techs told me that The CT portion of the Radiation machine will rotate around me and work to create a virtual 3D image of my knee area.  The machine would work to make sure that I am in the EXACT same position as the images from last week.  They explained that the machine would do any last minute positioning on its own!  Can you believe this technology?  They told me that after the CT image is created, the Radiation would be administered.  The Radiation comes out of the large round arm.  They explained that there would be five different positions for the round arm.  I will hear loud beeps  and then the Radiation arm would rotate to the next position.

They then left the room and I was alone.  I felt like I was being abducted by aliens (seriously)!!  It was bizarre.  I felt a little tickle under the skin but this day the treatment did not hurt.

After I was done, I got to meet with Dr. Dutton.  Every Thursday I will meet with her so that she can observe my skin and make any adjustments to the treatment or prescribe me lotions/creams for my treatment area, or pain medicine.

Side Effects

Today after treatment I felt so sick... like I was about to throw up at an moment, along with a loss of appetite.  I have burning sensation in the incision area and dry skin.  The worst part is that I'm exhausted.  I sure hope I some what 'get used to' the treatment and that each day is not like today.  However, by the end of the day, I got an appetite back!!  Lucky for me my caring meals calendar resumed today so we were brought a delicious pork tenderloin with root vegetables and a salad with one of m favorite dressings - it was SO good!!

Please pray that I feel better tomorrow or that at least I'm not nauseated as much as I was today.  Please pray that they radiation is effective in killing any remaining Cancer cells.  Pray that I am cured of Cancer.

Love you all!