The rest of the week......

Well, for a week that started out rather discouraging (in the toilet, really!) has turned out – so far – to be a fairly good week in many respects.  The pity party ended rather quickly, and I got on with my life.  There’s always more to be thankful for if you just look for it.

Wednesday I met my radiation doctor, and it went very well, but it was long.  The 1^st man (older) came in and took a bunch of history to put in the computer – questions you’ve answered a million times – but that’s OK. He was really very nice.  He explained a lot of what was to happen and even had pictures of much of the equipment that would be used.  The radiation machine looked a lot like the MRI or CT scan machines.  I’m “best friends” with those things now! 😀

Then the doctor came in to talk about the plan – a relatively young man.  He put me at ease right away as he began to explain the plan.  He felt the whole half of my head – left side where all the issues have been, including the top of my head and 5 cm away from each of the areas, which would make it take up all the left side of my head – would be radiated.  He said just treating this one spot would not be wise.  I do remember Dr. Powers talking some about that – that these other areas probably would need to be radiated also.  Anyway, he told me how it would all be done, and I felt very confident in his explanation of why and how it would be done. The prep work was able to be done and it was a LOT!!! I had to lie on my stomach on this narrow table with my eyes, nose, and mouth resting in this padded cut out “T” shaped area.  I had to lie there long enough I thought probably the indentation in my face might be permanent.  I think there were at least 4-5 men in there all working together to figure out how this bolus (mask) would be made to expose the necessary area.  They placed a whole bunch of tape all over my head, and then put this heavy, wet, HOT thing over my head – I think it was a lead mold-making thingy.  It cooled pretty quickly, and they soon peeled it off.  And a lot has to be done now on their part to get the bolus (mask) that fits my head and the wire cap that goes over everything.  That has screws in the edge of it that ties my head down securely to the table so that there is no possibility of moving.

So, the radiation is not likely to start next week.  That is the big disappointment.  I stressed the URGENCY again and again to everyone that was involved. I think they got the message and said they would do all they could on their part.  But I know, since this thing is not made there locally, a lot is out of their control.  Sometimes I think we just should have stayed with Mark in Overland Park and let them do the radiation there.  But it does seem that this doctor is being really thorough in his treatment plan.  KC might not have been able to start any sooner.

This doctor indicated that the treatment length might be more than a total of two weeks, which was what KC indicated that it would take, but I may not have to go more than 3-4 times a week.  Side effects with be like a sunburn on my head, (but most of that is numb anyway), and more fatigue.  Boy, more fatigue is what I need!  NOT!! The treatment itself will only be about 3-5 minutes long, and I won’t feel a thing then or afterwards. 

My biggest concern during this time is that it not spread to other parts of my body while I’m waiting for these treatments to start.  Also, I don’t know how deep it’s going.  It’s getting pretty gross looking. 

Today I put a bandaid over it and wore a baseball cap to the sale.  The cap irritated it a bit, but the bandaid seemed to calm the itching a bit after I removed the cap for the rest of the day.

The chemo dosage was lowered last Tuesday even more in anticipation of the radiation treatments.  (The higher dosage would cause the radiation to be too strong/toxic.) That is probably why I have felt pretty good as far as energy is concerned.  However, I woke up this morning (Sat) feeling like I needed a couple more hours of sleep.  We had planned to go to Lyons to Scrambled Sam’s for breakfast – always a treat for me, so I drug myself into bathroom, got dressed and got to the car.  I did feel better after eating.  This was the day of the 63^rd annual church auction that the Congregational church had planned.  I love going to the sale, but by the time we got back home, I just had to take a nap.  Guy even took a little one, and then he went to the sale.  I told him I’d meet him there for lunch.  The ladies always fix such good food and PIES!!!!  Last year I was in charge of making the baked beans, but this year, I had to bow out of it all.  So I slept the whole morning in my recliner.  By noon, I felt like I could make it the rest of the day.  By the time we finished eating and visiting with friends, I was ready for another nap.  So we went home, and I never did get to watch any of the sale.  I’m telling you this “fatigue thing” is really real!!!  What a bummer!!  I’m praying I’m up for SS and church in the morning since I was wiped out last Sunday.

Friday Mark brought his dogs by, dropped them at the house and drove to Hutch to meet us for lunch after I got my weekly fluids.  We ate at Taco Hut, and he left to spend the weekend with one of his friends who was involved in a big fishing tournament.  It was a friend he went to high school with.  So we have Heidi and Abby for the weekend – such sweet dogs!  They are all sleek with their summer cuts.

All waiting for their treats. 

 Mark will pick them up tomorrow after church and head back to OP.

I’ll leave you with a portion from yesterday’s Jesus Calling.

“Relax in the knowledge that the One who controls your life is totally trustworthy.  Come to Me with confident expectation.  There is nothing you need that I cannot provide.”  Thank you, Jesus!!

As always…..I remain in His hands…….