My New Job

In some respect, I do feel like I got a new job because I actually have to be somewhere everyday. I just hope this "job" pays off in the end like it should! When I go into the cancer agency, the radiation unit is like an underground maze. You have to enter on the main level, go through a bunch of twists and turns following orange signs, and then take an elevator at the end of the hall to level 0 (which I didn't know existed). When you get down there, I have more hallways to navigate until I get to Unit B. They give you a folded index card, like the ones you used to get at the school library, that has all your patient information and a special number (#292). I put my card in the basket at the sign-in desk and go to the changing rooms. Outside the changing room is where all the cloth bags are hung which holds the hospital gown I wear every time and the number on my card. Once I am changed, I hang out in the waiting area and wait for my name to be called. The waiting area is really big and welcoming with a large skylight right in the middle of the room. There are several tables with 1000 piece puzzles on them and a large screen t.v. There are 10 patients are sitting around in their gowns waiting for their names to be called. Most of them are by themselves since this is a daily trek which I'm sure I will be doing alone after this week as well.

Radiation is administered by 2 radiation therapists--all of which seem asian, young, and really peppy. They have two people so there is less room for error when setting up the machines which is a very technical task. Once I lay down on the bed and put my arms above my head, an x-ray -like machine gets placed near me and they start calling out a bunch of coordinates so they can align the lasers to the exact position that is outlined in my file by the radiation oncologist. There were also 3 pin prick tattoos placed around my breast at an earlier appointment which they also use as placement markers. Lights are dimmed so they can position the lasers and once that is done, they leave the room, flip the lights on, and let the machine do the work. There is a green/red light that beeps when the machine is on. The machine beeps for anywhere from 5 seconds to 10 seconds depending on the position. I am radiated from each side, and from the top and bottom. The radiologists come in and out to reset the machine a few times and once my hands have completely lost circulation and fallen asleep, I know we're done. It only takes about 10-15 minutes and is a painless process. My skin is feeling a bit sensitive already, like a slight burn, but I just keep applying lotion. I thought all the precautionary things they told me was for wimps until I leaned over the stove a bit too long yesterday and felt the heat come up on my chest--ouch!

I had a PET scan scheduled for tomorrow but now is delayed until next week because they are waiting for some part to come in. So much for private healthcare! Money definitely does not solve all problems. Patience, patience, patience...this is my biggest lesson of all.

Happy Easter, J

Moving Onto Radiation

I saw my oncologist last week and we decided that since the chemotherapy wasn't making anymore difference to the tumour, we are moving onto radiation. I had a ct scan done earlier this week in preparation for radiation and had received a call today for radiation on Monday morning. Radiation will be everyday for 5 1/2 weeks, excluding weekends and holidays. The appointment times will change daily, depending on doctors' schedules. I will be seen by a radiation oncologist once a week during the treatment to check my progress. Side effects will mostly be fatigue and soreness to the skin. I ordered some fancy radiation cream online so I hope this will deter any nasty side effects.

So is this good news or bad news? Well, it's neither. However, after reading some forums online, this is common protocol to change treatments. Many patients don't react positively to a particular type of treatment whether it be chemo, hormone therapy, or other drugs, so they will try something else. There are many types of breast cancer out there and although they have standard forms of treatment for the types they know, nothing is guaranteed.

Radiation is a more targeted approach because it zaps the tumour and nearby lymph nodes directly and works to eliminate the cancer cells at the source, rather than the chemo which works to kill cancer cells that could be floating in your body. Even though this particular chemo drug didn't do any major damage to the tumour, it could have still been eliminating other cancer cells that were not detectable by scans (scans can only detect clusters of cancer cells). I am looking forward to the next phase of treatment because if something's not working, I'm ready to move on.

I have a bone and ct scan scheduled for end of May but I might take matter into my own hands and go to a private clinic to get a PET scan which only has a 3 day wait. A PET scan gives a much more detailed picture of where cancer is in your body. To get an update on my status asap would be beneficial since this would give me the confidence to go ahead with radiation if the scan came out well. If the scan showed the cancer has spread, I would rather change the treatment plan now before getting too far along into radiation. Here's more information on PET scans if you're interested: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/pet.jsp

The good news is that my hair can start growing back! I can already see the peach fuzz! 

Love, J