Radiation - Day 1

January 13, 2009

I realize that I have skipped many details from the day I was diagnosed until today, day 1 of my 25 day radiation but I am pretty sure in time, it will all come out. Not in the order it happened but it will come out. For now, here are the basics of it all:

I have a Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Edward Gilbert, a Hematology Oncologist, Dr. Manish Gupta, and an Orthopedic Oncologist, Dr. Al Mollabashy. I will have 25 days of IMRT at Northpoint Cancer Center with Dr. Gilbert and then 3-4 months of CHOP Chemo with Dr. Gupta. I am not exactly sure what my relationship with Dr. Mollabashy will be anymore but still, I am supposed to visit with him some time next month. He left his permanant mark on me Dec. 23rd when he did the biopsy. He has officially been banned from anymore physical contact with my shoulder...haha...nah, he is a nice guy, I swear!

The radiation therapy is first. I started that today and I tell you, I look like I let a toddler loose on my upper body with a black Sharpie!! The radiation itself wasn't too bad but in order to be able to line me up properly each time, I had to be marked on and tattooed with a needle that resembled something used to knit a sweater! Okay, not really, more like a sewing needle. I used to think I wanted a tattoo but after today I have decided that I was a IDIOT! No offense if you have beautiful artwork on your body...you are a stronger person that me! My tattoos are more like a dot to dot page in a coloring book. I asked for hearts and stars but I guess with radiation, you don't get a choice...they aren't professional tattoo artists...they are my own team of professional killers! Cancer cell killers, that is.

I have a whole new skin regimine to go along with this that includes 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel, Huggies Natural Baby Wipes, Johnson & Johnson Pure Cornstarch Baby Powder, Basis soap and sports bras. No metal anything is to even so much as think about coming near my "radiation zone". No shaving, no deoderant, no perfumes, no sunlight & no support bras *eeek!* Pretty soon I will have no friends...kidding!!

The day I walked in the house with the baby wipes and baby powder, my youngest daughter walked in and asked if we were having a new baby. The expression on her face was priceless even though she is very well aware that couldn't possibly happen...but still, she is so cute...for a teenager =)

Enough already about today. It was the most exciting, I am sure but there are 24 more to go so I should save fun for the rest of the days to come!