Radiation 
Well I’m fully baked.  I had my last session of radiation this afternoon.  I’m still a bit amazed at the process.  For instance, today we had a bit of trouble getting my head to be the right distance from the machine.  As mentioned, after I’m laying on my side on the table, they arrange the table to be a set distance from the machine.  For minor adjustments they just move my feet or head.  Our goal was something like 360 cm for my head.  I was 359, so they moved my head a bit.  Then I was 362, so they moved it back.  Then I was finally 360 cm away.  But here’s the thing.  There is nothing holding my head in that 360 cm position.  A little cough or sneeze (which happened) and who knows if I’m still at 360 or perhaps I’m now at 363.  I take the words of the physicist to heart (a few centimeters won’t matter), but at the same time it’s just very interesting that we take time for an exact measurement that won’t be maintained.

Radiation- More Thoughts
Once I got used to the process, it wasn’t bad, but radiation has also been the loneliest part of my treatments.  Through out all of this, I’ve always had someone by my side.  Hands down that is usually Lindsey who has been my rock through all of this.  At the very least there is a nurse beside me for middle of the night chemo.  But for radiation, I’m in the room all alone.  The room is probably about the size of a 4 car garage.  Half of it taken up by the Trilogy Radiation machine.  When it’s time for radiation, every one leaves and a 1 foot thick door closes.  It’s just me.  All alone.  Kind of feels like a tomb.  It’s a good time to pray and I had music playing.  The machine makes a high pitched drilling like sound when it’s on, so you know when you’re getting zapped.  It takes a couple of 15 second breaks in between.  The treatment is around 10-11 minutes, or 3 songs.  I simply count the songs, sing along and pray.  I intently listen for the sound of the 1 foot thick door to open to know I’m done.  Thankfully I’m all done with the process.

Continue reading Tomorrow is The Big Day

This will be short as I don’t have my laptop to type on.  Fatigue and nausea continue to be the main side effects.  The doctors expect more side effects to develop sometime around day+2. I had my testicle radiation boost today. I’ll write more about that tomorrow to do it justice, but it was quite odd having three women arrange and tape my penis and testicles to prepare them. 

Tomorrow is my last day of radiation and then I get my new stem cells on Friday!  More on that tomorrow as well. Night all 😉

Man Boobs
October is a pink month about boobs.  Mine aren’t pink, but they are manscaped, sharpied and covered by a central line, so I thought I’d share.  The manscaping was for surgery to insert the central line.  If you look at the top of the bandage, you can still see some bruising and if you zoom in under the clear part of the bandage, you can see 2 stitches that hold the line in place so it doesn’t come out.

One might assume I drew on myself with a sharpie.  Normally, that would be a safe assumption.  However this sharpie oval is to help mark where the lead the protects my lungs is supposed to go.  They place a lead block on some plexiglass in front of my body.  They shine a light at the block which then projects the shadow on my chest.  They drew this sharpie outline so that we would have an easier time of placing the blocks tomorrow.  I also have marks on my back.

Continue reading Radiation Rob (Day -4)