Month: February 2023
41. Radiation Therapy, Session 18 of 20 (90%)
September 22, 2022 Update. As usual, we started off with arriving early at the radiation oncology unit for the 8-9 AM time slot. Someone else was in my usual waiting room seat so here’s another view of the area. The rooms housing the linear accelerators (Linac) are in the background (closed green door on the […]
40. Radiation Therapy, Session 16 of 20 (80%)
September 20, 2022 Update. I wasn’t going to write an update today, but I might forget the details so I’ll do it anyway. 16 of 20 radiation therapy sessions done, 80 percent. Although I may be further along than I think, because the boost dose (after the “primary course” of 15 sessions) is really a […]
39. Radiation Therapy, Session 15 of 20 (75%)
September 19, 2022 Radiation therapy session 15 of 20 done, 75 percent of total course. The radiation technologist reminded me today that sessions will be shorter from tomorrow onwards: the first 15 are like the “main course” and the last 5 are “dessert”. Technically they are called boost doses, and not dessert The boost doses […]
38. Radiation Therapy, Session 13 of 20 (65%)
September 15, 2022 Lucky 13(th) zapping today at radiation therapy. Lucky 7 more sessions to go. Here’s Doreen showing off the Calmoseptine ointment (Doreen : ahem, oink-ment), newly-prescribed protective barrier for the skin under my armpit which has begun to darken from the radiation. This happens in areas with skin folds; my flat chest does […]
37. No-Breast Clinic
September 13, 2022 Update. We can truthfully say I am now more than halfway through radiation therapy, with session 11 of 20 (55 percent) today. After radiation and a mid-morning snack with coffee at Starbucks, I made my way to the Breast Center for a follow up appointment with the breast surgeon. It was strange […]
36. Radiation Therapy, Session 10 of 20 (50%)
September 12, 2022 Update. Radiation therapy session 10 of 20 finished this morning. Fifty percent! Does that make me half-baked?
35. Keratin
September 11, 2022 Update. Today’s theme: keratin. Keratin is the body’s main protein for hair and nails. The other day, I noticed my fingernails had stripes – dark stripes that corresponded with chemotherapy cycles. Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cancer cells, and causes collateral damage to hair and nails because those cells are rapidly dividing too. […]
34. Pig Portraits
September 7, 2022 Pig portraits by Lisa, specially delivered by tita Suzette. Muchas, muchas gracias! Dave and Doreen, oil on linen. Also: 7 of 20 done (35%)! Just passed the ⅓ mark for radiation. [The last photo shows me, Lisa, and the pigs when she visited in January 2023]
33. Radiation Therapy, Session 6 of 20 (30%)
September 6, 2022 Update. We (Doreen , mom and I) arrived at Radiation Oncology early today… no other patients yet in the waiting room. 6 of 20 radiation therapy sessions… 30 percent done! At today’s follow up clinic visit, I got to view my CT scan and how the radiation beams are directed at the […]
32. Radiation Therapy, Session 4 of 20 (20%)
September 2, 2022 Update. Radiation therapy session 4 of 20 is done as of this morning (that’s 20 percent!). Here’s my attendance card, digitally edited to show the projected last day. I get to rest for the weekend and then it’s back to therapy on Monday. So far, Rose, there are no radiation-induced superpowers. At […]
