Let the radiation games begin!!

Today Lynne and I went across to the Radiation Oncology unit at The Canberra Hospital for a 1000 appointment. Free all day parking was readily available at that time of the morning but had gone by the time we came out mid afternoon.
There was a considerable delay as we needed to ascertain if complementary chemotherapy was to be administered. Once that was sorted out in the affirmative, I finally got my dose of about 2Gy of radiation into the target area. The full course will be 45Gy over about 25 sessions (about 5 weeks).
I will go to the chemotherapy clinic on Wednesday to get set up for 5-FU chemotherapy, which will run for the duration of the radiation. I am of course familiar with that drug from my chemotherapy last year.
All staff and nurses at the clinic were caring, helpful and sympathetic. After checking in at reception, patient and minder can go through to the work area. The patient then moves along to a change area to take off clothes and put on gowns as necessary. Although I was there for several hours because of all the sorting out to do, I could see that most patients were in and out in about 20 minutes. The enforced delay was not at all unpleasant. I read my current book and caught up with the small talk in the change room, with patients often noting how many sessions were left; all were looking forward to the end of treatment, but all seemed in good spirits. Women outnumbered men about 5 to 1. Lynne was able to catch up with her diary.
There are four linear accelerator [linac] machines in the purpose built bunker; once in the radiation room it is just a question of lying back on the hard bed and keeping still while the massive machine head variously moves back and forth to take aim at the 3D target inside my body. There is no sensation of any kind while the radiation is being delivered. Moments of emotion as I reflected on all this medical technology & expertise being lavished on me, and all the support from staff, doctors, Lynne, family & friends.
After the radiation, nurse staff again ran through the probable and possible side effects of radiation, which will inevitably be cumulative and persist after the treatment has ended.
So by mid afternoon we were on our way home, appointment tomorrow at 1450.

A bientot

Peter
Canberra, Australia
snusher@gmail.com