12/18/08 was my first treatment and the next day was treatment#2. I must say each treatment was fairly uneventful. The City of Hope is clearly the brand for cancer. They function with military precision and at the same time they are very user friendly. This is very important given that every patient in that facility is very sick! Some sicker that others but nonetheless sick.
I know this is early but so far no side effects. This is one of the benefits of the Tomo Therapy. Tomo Therapy has minimal side effects given how the radiation beams are pin point focused and directed only to the specific target. It is amazing. They align me using the tattoos marked on my body. (I look like lil Wayne now) Actually it’s 3 pencil dots. I have my own personalized lower body mold they place me in and they scan me to make sure things are on target. If not on target the computer tells the machine to make adjustments and then ….show time for 6½ minutes at 275° I am basted with butter and turned often until done. No seriously it’s six minutes of listening to a loud clicking noise and then I am soon putting on my pants and out the door. They say I can bring my IPOD next time.
The most interesting part is disrobing in front of 2 women who were radiology technicians and a third person, a guy a physicist. I have to remove my pants, and shoes. I was put off on day one when I asked for a gown and the 2 women told me no we will give you a blanket and you will get used to us seeing you in your boxers or briefs.
Anyway I will not bore you with every treatment. I will update you guys at 10 treatment intervals or if there is something noteworthy like glowing in the groan area. :-) So that's 2 down and 41 to go. I go Monday through Friday with the exception of 2 Sundays, today and the 28th because the unit is closed on certain days for the holidays. My last treatment day is February 17th the day all TV's go digital. There has to be joke in that coincidence.
Anyway I am done for the day. I keep a very positive prospective on my current situation but as I visit the City of Hope I get a clear prospective of how delicate and sometimes unfair life can be. You have to value each day and savor each moment because things can change in a instant. A very good friend once told me "We all have to live in the moment because nothing just happens". I am blessed with early discovery and world class treatment, some are not so blessed.
