Radiation doctor appointment #1...

I went on Friday, March 5th to meet with Dr. Milito at Oakwood Cancer Center. This is where I will receive my radiation treatments. The appointment went well. We discussed how he was going to measure me for the radiation, the mask that I will be fitted for, and the side effects.

Dr. Milito said that since I am not even thirty yet he wants to be very precise in is measurements of where the radiation will hit. Apparently in older people who have cancer in the neck area, they will just radiate the entire neck area. The doctor said he doesn’t want to do that with me and would like to be very precise and only radiate what is needed. I say ‘thank you’!!! I will be fitted for a mesh mask that will hold my head in place during treatment. Not only will it hold my head in place, it will ensure that my head is in the same position every time, thus the radiation hitting the same correct spot every time.

Now for the side effects…how lovely!! I have a very tricky spot of cancer…some of it is on the very back of my tongue (in my neck). This will be very tricky to radiate and will come along with wonderful side effects. The doctor said that I will lose my sense of taste, and that it probably won’t come back for at least a year. My mouth is going to get very, very sore and it will become hard for me to chew and swallow. He said my desire to eat will diminish and I will lose weight. Now the weight loss part doesn’t bother me. I have said through this whole thing that if there is a silver lining…at least I could afford to lose more weight. My concern is making sure I am getting the right nutrients. So it sounds like I will be drinking my meals in the form of protein shakes and other supplements. And then there is the fatigue…that is a side effect that carries over from chemo to radiation. Sounds like more nap times!

The doctor then looked at me and said “you need two more weeks off”. D told him that I have been working the whole time. He looked a little shocked at that, but then clarified that I need two more weeks off from the chemo before we start radiation. He said I looked very, very tired and run down. Huh…I had even wore eye makeup that day as to not look like that. I guess I am not fooling anybody.

I go this Thursday, March 11th for the final appointment before radiation starts. I will get a CAT scan for the doctor to base his measurement off of. They will also be fitting me for the lovely mesh mask…think Jason with more holes. And I will get my ID swipe card. Every patient has a swipe badge that they have to bring with them. The machine scans the badge and pulls up all of the information needed for the radiation. This ensures that no one ever gets the wrong radiation treatment.

I am very anxious for this all to start…mainly so it can end. I am so over this cancer crap!!! But sadly my body isn’t – I am still battling with the fatigue. I have also been battling with myself and how others see me. There are some people in my life who I truly believe they think that I am done with everything and all better because the chemo is done. But the fact of the matter is (as my husband so wisely put it) chemo was the first stage of treatment and radiation is the second…I will not be “all better” for a little longer yet. All I keep telling myself is “patience my dear, patience.”  But don't get me wrong, I still feel very positive about this whole thing and like Dori in Finding Nemo I "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

**Edited to add...the treatments will be 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for at least 5 weeks.  I will know whether it will be more than 5 weeks after the doctor does all of his measurements and calculations.