The Treatment Track

We have returned to Lewiston, New York and have begun the process of radiation treatment for my cancer. This is part of the protocol for Partial Breast Lumpectomy and much the same as the treatment I had three years ago. However, there continue to be changes in treatment even in just three years. The targeting is more precise, I met a new and innovative machine, and as is usual, met some more upbeat and brilliant staff people. They make the process of treatment, if not completely enjoyable, much more fun than you would expect it to be. I was shown the pictures of treatment from last time, Xray scans of exactly what was treated and by how much, and a description of how they will do it this time. Only a small portion of my lung was irradiated last time, and it appears that most of my heart will be out of the way of the radiation beam this time. They are trying the planning two ways; with an inspired breath-hold and with breathing normally, to determine which gives my other organs the best protection. They are really doing a thorough job for me. There is a device that shows me that I am taking and holding the same amount of breath each time on cue. It took a little practise, but it isn't too hard to do. Like a new kind of video game.

In the interests of giving me as much time before Reagan and Bing's wedding as possible, they are custom designing a program for me that would give me a little higher dose over a slightly shorter time period, that should give me about one week to recover before the wedding.

They are doing the planning in a much shorter time than usual. It usually takes 10 days to two weeks for this process. They measured, mapped, marked and tatooed my chest today and hope to have the details worked out by Friday so that I can start treatment by Monday. You can't do much better than that!! I did very well with my skin not burning the last time, so that is causing them to think the higher dose will be okay for me. This protocol is used in several other countries, but it has not yet been adopted as standard practice at Roswell. So I must trust that the same strategy of the honey ingestion and Aloe on my skin will help me to get through this again. I told Ron that I think I should have breast massage with aloe at least twice per day. He'll try to fit me in to his schedule!