Day # 2....SuckEggDawg

Day #1 went as well as to be expected.  While waiting in the room with all of the other patients waiting for their treatment - you can't help but wonder:

"Why is she here" 

"I wonder what is wrong with him"

"That person looks so young"

It is so sad in the radiation dept at Moffitt.  I am sure the other patients are looking at me with the same inquisitive thoughts.  I wear a knitted hat that I made as to cover my horseshoe-shaped scar and my baboon looking stand straight-up hair.  Although I have a braided ponytail to one side.....according to them - they think I have all of my hair.  What could be wrong with her? - I am sure they wonder as I made eye contact with all of them.

A nice lady from a volunteer group at the hospital brought me a nice gift bag with some literature about the program and what they do.  In the bag was a beautiful teal blanket with the Moffitt logo.  Such a nice, thoughtful gesture.  The blanket is beautiful  - sweatshirt material on the top and fleece on the bottom.  (just the right weight too - I like heavy blankets).  I love Moffitt and I know that I am in good hands there!!

When my name was called - I stood up with strength and said to myself  "ok girl - lets do this". The two radiation techs were just as sweet as they could be.  We discussed my extreme claustrophobia and they definitely comforted me in saying that it was all going to be ok and gave me a few other pointers to do.

I laid on the table and once they placed the mask on me.....it felt A LOT tighter than the day that it was made.  After about 10 seconds - I made them take it off.  It was pressing my mouth and nose down as if I was wearing pantyhose over my head...... it was suffocating!!

I wore one of my mom's rings so she was there with me.....

After a few deep breaths and some further comforting words from the two techs - a moment of strength rose up in me and I was ready........ the mask went back on, locked in place on the table and the treatment started.  Although they were not in the room with me (not that would have made any difference  - I was being watched by a camera.  They had to take a few x-rays to make sure that the 3-D receptors on the mask and the cross points were lined up for the radiation beams.  The beam cross points can not even be off 0.1mm!!

After the radiation oncologist reviewed the x-rays - the abolishing beams started.  You can't feel the beams. You can only hear them.  Just sounds like static.....like a buzzing light bulb or that electric circle thingamagig at MOSI for static electricity.

I was doing good..... they would talk to me along the way.  I was doing slow deep breathing and concentrating on relaxing every muscle.  All of your words of encouragement, scripture that has been given, and repeating SuckEggDawg a few times helped.....  I did not even think about the mask on my face.  I just pictured myself standing up against a screen door with my face pressed tightly to it  :o)

The procedure took about 20 minutes, but the treatments after today will not take as long.

As a celebratory snack - Mark took me to DQ for a small blizzard = Georgia Mud Fudge.  It was awesome - even on a cold day like yesterday.

I do have a slight headache that I went to bed with and woke up with.....I guess that is normal since the brain swells after being hit with radiation.  If it gets too bad - I will let the doctor know. Other than that - no complaints whatsoever.

Day #2 is today.  I marked my days on the calendar and I should be completed by February 9th.

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and support!!!

Abolishing act in progress.  I hope to report 2 months from now that I am tumor free and will never have to spend another day worrying about this thing.

SuckEggDawg y'all.  Love ya!!!