Tag: doreen
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 […]
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 […]
31. Radiation Therapy Begins
August 30, 2022 Update. First radiation therapy session is finished. Nineteen more to go. Radiation can be harsh on your skin and cause a sunburn-like condition called radiation dermatitis. Here is Doreen showing off a tube of lotion especially made for people undergoing radiation therapy (it’s called Miaderm) and some green tea solution. The green […]
30. Tamoxifen, Bone Densitometry, Flushing the Port
August 27, 2022 Update. Doreen’s adventures today in healthcare (and modeling). First, a bit of background. The surgically removed cancerous tumor was positive for hormone receptors (hormones come from the ovaries; the tumor had estrogen and progesterone receptors that could make it grow and spread). Two days ago, I started Tamoxifen. This is a medication […]
29. Radiation Therapy Simulation
August 17, 2022 Update. Went for CT simulation today. This is a session in which the radiation oncologist and medical physicist figure out the anatomy and the correct dose for zapping the tumor site. Doreen and I brought with us a lot of patience – which thankfully did not run out, because the appointment went […]
