Post Op Week 8: Radiation Week 1

It was a crazy week logistically, but –spoiler– everything works out!

We had planned to be in NJ for Thanksgiving to see family, so we were flying 11/21-11/25.  Unfortunately, my Grandmother passed away on 11/20 after 94 amazing years!  The funeral was scheduled for Monday 11/26, and I, of course, wanted to be there. I was supposed to get my radiation schedule the week of Thanksgiving, but never heard from them (and at that time, thought I was starting 11/26).  So after not hearing from the doctors, I called my Radiation Oncologist on 11/21 and he said they were still working on my schedule but would call me on 11/25 to start on 11/26.  I also reminded them I had a work meeting in Miami I wanted to attend on 12/3 and would need the first appointment.  So with that, I ended up heading to NJ for Thanksgiving, flying home Sunday with Shawn and the baby, then flying back up on Monday for the day to attend the funeral.  My Dr. finally called me on 11/25 asking me to report Tuesday 11/27 at 1:45pm for my first radiation treatment and expect the appointment to be 30-60 minutes (they had no other appointments that day and of course that time was the worst for me).  I also asked about the 12/3 early appointment (I needed to catch a 9:40am flight).  They said I couldn’t book it until after my appointment on 11/27 for some reason.  Then at my 11/27 appointment I asked for the earliest appointment for 12/3 and she said they couldn’t accommodate, but to ask later in the week to see if “something opens” (which when you need to book a flight doesn’t help). I ended up asking each day and they finally gave me the 8:15am appointment and said to come early.

So after all that craziness, I made my flights, made the funeral and made all my radiation appointments.  So how was radiation? Here’s the low down:

• Schedule:
  • Daily M-F 8:30-8:45 from 11/27/18 – 1/14/19
• Routine
  • Shawn drops me off on his way to work after we drop the baby off
  • I get there around 8:20 and check in then head straight back to change into a robe from the top up.
  • They originally told me no earrings etc, but later revised to say nothing in the radiation field, so I can keep on glasses, rings, earrings, pants, belts and watches – which is nice
  • You wait in the dressing room for them to come get you (it’s cold in there). They have 4 dressing rooms and 4 chairs. The most people waiting in there with me has been 2.
  • They come get you sometime between 8:25 – 8:40 (Wednesday it was 8:45!)
  • Then they take you to the machine and you lay down in your mold
    

    My Radiation Machine and Mold!

  • They spend a few minutes fixing you into position
  • Then on to radiation. I get hit with 6 beams I think (1 from the top, 2 from the right, and 2 from the left and 1 from the back)
  • You lay there and each time they say “take a breath” you old it for 20 second then the machine clicks off and you relax. They reset the machine and go again.  It takes 15 minutes.
  • Every other day we use a Bolus. It’s a plastic mold of my left side where the radiation hits, and it helps the radiation get closer to the skin.  They seem to do this for people who had mastectomy’s from what I read (see more here). Oddly they took the mold my first session instead of the session where we mapped my body..
  • Once a week the Dr. will see me as well
  • They also sometimes reapply the marker lines and bandages over them
  • Then I change and leave – easy peasy
• After effects
  • I use the Rx cream 2x per day:  once when I dress after the session in the dressing room and then once before bed.  I also have to remember to use it on my back as there’s a small place the beam hits there.  Also there is a small section of my right boob which is in the field that I have to remember to apply cream to (I’m not super happy about that – I asked if deflating my right boob would help and they said no).
  • So far my side effects haven’t been too noticeable, maybe my skin is a bit tender. Fingers crossed.

So far radiation has been good.  Outside of being a logistical nightmare so far, it’s going well.  Hopefully now though that my crazy travel is done and my schedule is set, it’ll ease up and I’ll be much less high maintenance for the nurses – since I won’t be demanding new times.

Special thank you to the Larsons for this amazing gift basket. I’m loving the fuzzy socks.

Also I wanted to give a quick memory of my amazing grandmother Margaret Byrne Larson.  The thing I loved most about Grama was her surprising wit and sense of humor. Under her elegant sophistication was a spunk and humor that always amazed me.  I like to think I got some of it.