The Final Frontier
From my Facebook blog....
THE FINAL FRONTIER - RADIOTHERAPY
THE FINAL FRONTIER - RADIOTHERAPY
It seems soooo long ago since initial diagnosis....the testing....the biopsies....the initial surgery.....chemo.....more surgery and now the final phase in active treatment, Radiotherapy.
Last week I was told too much of my lung would recieve radiation and so I was called back in to re-scan doing Deep Inspiration Breath hold Technique .....Deep Inspiration Breath Hold is a radiotherapy technique that requires you to hold your breath during your CT scan (measurement scan) and each daily treatment. You need to be able to hold your breath for a short period ~ 20 seconds, several times during each daily treatment..This equipment will only allow the treatment machine to deliver radiation whilst you are holding your breath.
Radiotherapy uses radiation, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams or protons, to kill or damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and multiplying. It is a localised treatment, which means it generally only affects the part of the body where the radiation is directed.
I lie on a table (similar to the one pictured below) arms above my head....My nose gets pegged closed and I get connected to the breath hold machine and once the therapists are happy with the placement...a gel sheet is placed over my right side and taped in place......this gel sheet tricks the radiation into thinking I have more tissue to penetrate, thus providing delivery closer to the skin as well as deeper into the tissue giving a more thorough treatment...a final go over then treatment begins.
Today was the first session of 25. I was in there for around an hour....but I was told this was because it was the first one and they triple check everything.
So position perfect, the therapists make their escape to be protected from the cancer blasting death rays.....I lie there and wait for instruction over the speaker......the machine buzzes and whirrs as it gets ready.... the computer screen flashes with instructions and images of me....."When you're ready, take a deep breath in"....
I close my eyes and take my deep breath.....The machine blocks my breath and the rays are delivered while I hold my breath......the radiation machine slowly moves across my chest....20 seconds later the breathing machine releases and I can breathe normally.....This goes on for another 20 minutes......
By the end of the session I did struggle to keep my breath held for 20 seconds, but just as I thought I had to let go the machine released.....The most annoying part is the damn nose peg!!!
That thing is clamped so hard on your nose! You try to swallow and it feels like the back of your throat is going to get stuck shut......slight panic! But after a few go's I realised that this wasn't going to happen and I found it bearable....kinda :/ I reckon by the end of the 5 weeks I will be a champion syncronised swimmer/free diver!
Once treatment was finished I got changed and my Rads Onc passed me in the hall....he stopped for a chat and explained that I still have a 3% chance of side effects due to my lung exposure, but that is outweighed by the benefits of targeting all the lymph glands in that area...and using this breathing technique was better than not using it as it does lessen the impact on my lung...I then went on and saw the nurses for patient educationon skin care before, during and after radiotherapy treatments.
Radiotherapy burns your skin, there is no way around it.....and I am fair skinned and don't do well in the direct sun, so I am expecting to be burnt from the radiation. The key thing is to keep my skin moisturised well.....I am to smother my skin with Sorbelene or Moo Goo (as I am now) after each treatment and before bed, then I have to gently wash the cream off before treatments...I am not allowed to shave or wax under my arm (ewww! that's going to be a sight after 5 weeks!) or use regular deodorant or perfume while having treatment...
What? no deodorant? O.O Luckily I have to start using a QV deodorant with no perfume or aluminium....Phew! no stinky armpit for me, it's bad enough it will be hairy!
I will be closely monitored throughout my treatment and will have weekly consults with my Radiation Oncologist.....fingers crossed no serious side effects will occur!
So that's it in a nutshell! one down.....24 to go!
Look out bitch....the death rays are coming for you!
