On Monday I officially started my 30 day journey of radiation treatments. I go once a day (weekends off!) to Radiation Oncology, drop off my support (friend) of the day in the waiting area and head into my secret lair. This place is like a well oiled machine! I type in my last four digits of my social security number into a computer and it tells me which machine I am on that day. There are 6 possible machines - sadly that means there a lot of us SuperBats out there... I did catch a glimpse of one of my fellow club member's tattoos in the waiting room, so I knew he was legit - no impostors allowed!
Each of my appointments are scheduled for 25 minutes, but actual treatments are only about 2 minutes. I lay on a bed (which is set up specifically for my body before I get in the room) and the radiation therapists start moving me - they are very adamant about the fact they move me, I don't move me! I have three tattoos and one permanent sticker which they use to make sure I align perfectly on the table. With my arms above my head, snorkel machine in my mouth, a nose plug, and goggles displaying my breathing pattern, we begin. The therapists leave the room, the radiation machine rotates around me, and my breathing pattern is measured (exhales on the grey line). Once my breathing is stable a yellow line appears above the grey line, I inhale through my mouth until I reach the yellow line, at which point I am "in the zone" (it still gets me every time they say that, "She's in the zone!"). Once I am in the zone, I hold my breath, which is when the actual radiation is administered. I get two shots from the top right and two shots from the bottom left. And that is that, for the day. Same thing. Every day. For 30 days.
Each of my appointments are scheduled for 25 minutes, but actual treatments are only about 2 minutes. I lay on a bed (which is set up specifically for my body before I get in the room) and the radiation therapists start moving me - they are very adamant about the fact they move me, I don't move me! I have three tattoos and one permanent sticker which they use to make sure I align perfectly on the table. With my arms above my head, snorkel machine in my mouth, a nose plug, and goggles displaying my breathing pattern, we begin. The therapists leave the room, the radiation machine rotates around me, and my breathing pattern is measured (exhales on the grey line). Once my breathing is stable a yellow line appears above the grey line, I inhale through my mouth until I reach the yellow line, at which point I am "in the zone" (it still gets me every time they say that, "She's in the zone!"). Once I am in the zone, I hold my breath, which is when the actual radiation is administered. I get two shots from the top right and two shots from the bottom left. And that is that, for the day. Same thing. Every day. For 30 days.
In other news, after much thought I've finally decided upon a name for Leftie's unexpected pregnancy. Due to the fact the tumor is commonly called "cancer of the older women" I found it only fitting to name the tumor an old-fashioned name - Gertrude (Gertie for short). So, there's that.
Also, I decided I wanted to document this journey, via a photo a day. If you are interested in following, I'll be posting my photos on Instagram, as well as on my blog: http://
Hope to see you soon!
Later Gators!
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