First Week of Radiation

Got a new team of caretakers now. They are the radiation oncology front office, tech's,and nurses at Dekalb. I met the team on Monday when I was called in to have some pics taken. This session went pretty simple... but of course the usual process first. Take off everything from the waist up and put on a REAL hospital gown. I'm then escorted to a room where my body mold is going to be made, I get lined-up,marked, and stickered for radiation. Yup I got stickers on me... and they're supposed to stay put for the the next :) 40-50 days. lol. ok.

I had my first treatment the very next morning. It went fine. I'm going to sum the entire week with the same thing. It went fine.... You do the same thing everyday. :l

New Stuff

New care givers, new office, new Dr., and new patients (friends). There are a group of other ladies that seem to be regulars here with me. Though we've been cordial with each other we really didn't make conversation until Thursday; my third day of radiation. We all had to wait for the computer system to be repaired.

The actual machine was fine but the backup systems weren't responding to each other.... OK., fine, just as long as that's so and I don't get fried.

Our conversation ended up on our obvious link... Cancer! This may sound weird but it was nice to actually talk to others that shared my condition. Yea, I know I'm not alone but I never really got to talk to anyone ...like me. I won't bore you with the details but I will say,... it felt great being among like kinds. :-)


Wednesday

While waiting our turn for radiation, the ladies and I discussed our hair loss. Don't forget, initially loosing my hair was very hard for me. Now, I'm just used to it. It's also easier now to accept it since my hair is growing back. :-) I'm kinda liking it a little. It looks like fine baby hair... with a few and I do mean a few grays. :D Remember back in the day when all the girls wanted to comb down that fine hair in front of their hair line; some of em even jacked it up with gel; well I got a full head of that. Sorrieee! I got a bit off track from the hair loss discussion. Each of us told our horror story of this retched side effect from chemo. One lady lost nothing, the others were like me, but one shared a similar vanity. She considered herself ugly and alien like without any facial hair; eye brows and lashes. Don't judge us people! It IS hard looking at yourself like that. It's does seem so simple but ... it, it just ain't. Anyway, before I was called to the radiation room, I did something that I had only done for my immediate family. Apprehension started to grab a hold of me but I persevered and removed my wig, revealing my new hair. They loved it; thought it was cute; thought I was cute. I... felt... somewhat... stronger? about it. Like,.. yea... this is me and you can accept what you see... or not!... and it not have a negative impact on me. :) What a moment.


Please be active about your monthly breast exam, it could save your life.

Oh! I did put my wig back on and carried on though my day. Hopefully one day soon I'll be ready to walk around everywhere with my "new super short hair."