Radiation has begun

 

For those of you curious as to what radiation is like - here's the scoop.

 The latest technology is available at my hospital and is called Tomotherepy. It works better than regular radiation treatments because instead of delivering the radiation in a straight line - it is computer assisted to deliver radiation in a flexible way as to avoid extra expose to the heart and lungs. The latest and greatest I'm told.

I lay on this table with my arms above my head and they move me/and the table into the round part of the machine to deliver the radiation. 

I'm in there for about 20 minutes - laying still.

 (Why does your nose always itch when you are supposed to be laying still?)

They give you a warm blanket for your legs and someone has gone into my machine and stuck smiley face stickers in the tube. I pretty much just close my eyes and veg. 

(and try to forget about my itchy nose)

It takes me about 25 minutes to drive to the center - 30-40 minutes in the office - 25 minutes home. So for the next several weeks this will be my routine 5 days a week for 27 treatments.

Today was day 2 - no side effects yet - they say they won't show up for 2 weeks or so. Then the main side effects are fatigue and rash and sunburn feeling on the radiation site.

Thanks for all the good wishes and prayers - we are so blessed!