RaDiatioN TrEAtmenT

So Friday I had an appointment with the Radiation Doctor. I forget his name. I really liked him. He was the most personable doctor I have had yet. He also was very throe and very informative. He did a full body exam. He went over all the possible side affects. He then went over what would happen. So if I choose to do radiation the possible side affects are fatigue, nausea (which they will prescribe meds for), skin burn(which I can use Aloe lotions), stuffy head(which they can prescribe something may also have to have tubes), hair lose after the first week of treatment(peach fuzz after treatment, then no hair for 6 months, then possible no hair grow except for Mohawk hair growth) I think those are the only immediate side affects. I asked long term and I didn't really get an answer. The only one that bothers me is the possible permanent hair loss. Knowing that eventually my hair will come back is comforting and makes it not hard for me to lose it. I am not so sure about the possibility of it never coming back for coming in thin that is a little harder to swallow.

We found out that you don't grow new brain cells you receive all your brain cells by the time you are two. Which in this case is good. The radiation only attacks the cells that split and grow. Which is the cancer and hair, skin things like that. So no brain damage just killing hair follicles, skin cells and the cancer.

We also found out that treatment will be 15 visits or three weeks. Which I think is great news. I was thinking 6 weeks. All the breast cancer patients I know are doing or have done six weeks. He said brain cancer is different. Even though it was breast cancer in the brain still brain so different. The appointments are about 20 minutes and a little longer on Mondays I have to see the doctor on Mondays before appointments.

I also had someone ask what is radiation. For me basically it is laser lights that are pointed at the area of treatment.

Also having radiation decreases my risk of the cancer returning by 50%. So I would go from %60 that it will return to my brain to %10 if treated with radiation.

I have heard not good things about radiation and was a little unsure if it was the right thing for me. So Ryan and I fasted yesterday to make sure that radiation is a good treatment for me. We feel that it will be o.k. to do the radiation. So I am scheduled for another radiation appointment to be measured and marked up or tattooed on Thursday. So I will let you know how that goes. I then should start treatment that following Monday or Tuesday. It depends on if they can get everything ready and set up how quick I will go in.

I still have the thrush it doesn't feel as bad and I am still taking the meds. It is a pill I will take for 10 days.

I also have an appointment with Dr. Fewle tomorrow so I will try to be better and post about that tomorrow.

I am feeling so good. I feel like I have most of my energy back if not all of it. I think the kids do a great job of keeping me busy and preoccupied which I think really helps.