All my treatments save today's ( Tuesday June 23rd), were scheduled for 8:30AM. Because I was to meet with my Radiation Oncologist, this treatment was scheduled for 1:30PM. Which was extremely fortunate, as I would have missed it if was earlier.
Monday had been an energy-expending day for me, and I crashed that night into an exhausted sleep. So tired was I that the thunderstorm that rolled through before dawn didn't wake me. It did however interrupt the power, and that caused my clock radio to reset. Which allowed me to sleep in. It wasn't until nearly 9:00AM that I awoke. Since all my appointments that week save today's were for 8:30AM, I guess I was fortunate for the later treatment time.
Having reset my alarm clock I was able to attend my next treatment in a somewhat more leisurely manner. As I was no longer a "Treatment Newby", my registration at the Radiation Registration desk was perfunctory, and I wandered down to the assigned Patient Waiting Room. I know what to expect now, so I'm pretty comfortable with the process. Today however I have different techs than last time, and it was interesting to see how they approached the set up for aligning my leg for treatment.
There was a bit more jockeying of my leg to position it 'just so', and the longer they fiddled with the setup, the more the back of knees ached. I guess I should stretch before I do this next time. Once the techs are satisfied they return to the safety of the control room behind me and the treatment commences. Once more the table raises, and the treatment machine does it's eerie slow-motion traversal around my leg. I have this fleeting vision that I've seen this on an X-files episode before. Hopefully it's not a repressed memory!
As before, the process completion is indicated by the return of the techs, and the lowering of the table back to 'ground zero'. As it seems to happen more often, my getting up from a prone position on my back involves a bit of gymnastic maneuvering and the occasional assistance from a friendly tech. My second treatment is over, and back I go to the Radiation Reception desk. Where I wait for my follow-up appointment with the oncologist.
It wasn't a very long wait, and I'm brought into the exam room. My nurse is going over her checklist and asking if I have any concerns or symptoms. So far nothing other than my sore leg which I've attributed to over-exertion from my "walking" attempts yesterday. The nurse exits, and the doctor enters, almost like a tag-team match.
Basically they're seeing if my leg, in particular the skin, is having any irritation or other reactions. I could expect a light sunburn effect in the next few days, or possibly some other irritation. But the main concern is my level of pain. Both the doctor and nurse have expressed concern that if I'm having pain to let them know immediately. Although I'm hesitant to become reliant on drugs, there's simply no value in suffering. Stoicism is overrated. So I have a prescription for Tylenol-3, and I resolve that I wouldn't fill the prescription until I needed them. If I knew what was going to happen in two more days I would have filled it immediately after leaving the Hospital!
However the doctor doesn't see any immediate issues with my leg, and won't need to follow up with me until October. Unless there's a problem, then I am to notify the Cancer Center immediately.
I'm feeling pretty confident about the treatment right now, and while it's not letting me walk in my usual way, the amount of distress seems to be getting less. Time will tell, and with only three more treatments remaining, I am told I will expect significant relief. Tomorrow I resume my 8:30AM appointment times. Hope I don't sleep in!
No comments:
Post a Comment