Let the Radiation Begin
June 29, 2012
This treatment was nothing like the stereotactic radiation I had a few months ago. The mask is only one-sided (no back to it) and it takes just a few moments for the zapping. It was quick and easy for me, although the technicians seemed to be working hard. They turned on some good music and tucked a warm blanket around my freezing cold tootsies, and after clamping my head down to the table, told me to hold still. There's really not much else one can do, if they are clamped by the head to a table. I tried humming to the music, but found that if you can't move your lower jaw, you can't hum along with the tune. I have a hard time keeping a tune without a mask on, so as you can guess, it was impossible with the mask, so I gave up trying.
I thought it might be interesting for everyone (including myself) to see what it looks like to the technicians giving me the treatment, so I asked them to take a few photos. These are the results. They were so nice to email them to me!
This treatment was nothing like the stereotactic radiation I had a few months ago. The mask is only one-sided (no back to it) and it takes just a few moments for the zapping. It was quick and easy for me, although the technicians seemed to be working hard. They turned on some good music and tucked a warm blanket around my freezing cold tootsies, and after clamping my head down to the table, told me to hold still. There's really not much else one can do, if they are clamped by the head to a table. I tried humming to the music, but found that if you can't move your lower jaw, you can't hum along with the tune. I have a hard time keeping a tune without a mask on, so as you can guess, it was impossible with the mask, so I gave up trying.
I thought it might be interesting for everyone (including myself) to see what it looks like to the technicians giving me the treatment, so I asked them to take a few photos. These are the results. They were so nice to email them to me!
I've had a bit of a headache today - just the slightest - and my head feels like it's too big for my muscles to hold it up. It's a strange sensation. Steve said he thought it looked bigger, but he didn't think it had anything to do with the radiation therapy...
July 23, 2012
I had a plan to write something really interesting here (or maybe it was only interesting to me...) but one of the side effects of radiation therapy is that short-term memory goes out the window (have I already told you that?). As you may have already deduced, I have totally forgotten what I wanted to tell you! Oh, wait, I remember now...
I didn't get any severe skin burns from my treatment. I think it's because there were holidays and vacations in the middle of the therapy, and it broke up my visits a bit. I hope these little breaks didn't negatively influence the treatment's effectiveness, because I honestly don't want to have to do this again.
Today I had my last radiation treatment. I was rather sad to say good-bye to the kind radiation therapists who took such gentle care of me during the past 3 weeks. I hope I never have to return for more sessions, but if I do, I know I'll be in good hands.
I had a plan to write something really interesting here (or maybe it was only interesting to me...) but one of the side effects of radiation therapy is that short-term memory goes out the window (have I already told you that?). As you may have already deduced, I have totally forgotten what I wanted to tell you! Oh, wait, I remember now...
I didn't get any severe skin burns from my treatment. I think it's because there were holidays and vacations in the middle of the therapy, and it broke up my visits a bit. I hope these little breaks didn't negatively influence the treatment's effectiveness, because I honestly don't want to have to do this again.
Today I had my last radiation treatment. I was rather sad to say good-bye to the kind radiation therapists who took such gentle care of me during the past 3 weeks. I hope I never have to return for more sessions, but if I do, I know I'll be in good hands.