First Radiation Done!

It has been a while since I have updated you all. Life has been very busy, but in a good way! I am working two part-time jobs. One at our church as a children’s ministry assistant. I LOVE IT!! the other job is back with the company that gave me a chance 10 years ago as a newbie transcriptionist. I am managing several accounts for them and I also love it! In addition to work we have karate and baseball for Isaac.

Today, I had my first of 28 radiation treatments. It was very easy. The last few weeks have been preparing for today. I went in last week to have a CT done. The doctor used that to make a radiation plan. At that appointment they also gave me three tattoos. These small dots are used to line me up on the machine. They are permanent, but thankfully are only the size of a freckle and hardly noticeable.

On Monday I went in for my dry run. This is where they map everything out and prepare to make a template for my actual treatment. This appointment was long. It took about 45 minutes and I was sore afterwards just from laying flat on my back with my arms above my head. I left with a lot of fun colors drawn on my skin. It goes from my sternum to under my arm. They will be treating my chest wall and lymphatic system as those are the two most common places for occurrence.

I have no idea what all those makes mean, but they do and that’s all that matters!

Today, my appointment was scheduled for 8:30 and I was back out in the car by 8:50. The radiation machine is pretty cool. The table rotates you into the perfect position. They check to make sure everything is lined up and then zap you. I was zapped five times in different places. Each one lasted maybe five seconds. I felt nothing. The machine would make a noise and a light in the wall would flash and that’s the only way I knew the radiation was being done.

One down, 27 to go. I will go Monday through Friday. If I’ve done my math correct, my last treatment will be May 24!