Yesterday I entered the world of radiation, sort of. Before treatment can begin, my body must be "mapped" in order to enable the radiation to hit its intended target.
I was ushered into a semi-intimidating room and met by two friendly and competent young women (is everyone in the world young except me?) who guided me through this new experience.
First I had my mugshot taken. Yes...I actually held a name card to my chest and smiled for the camera. I decided that if it avoids my getting treatment intended for the next person in line, it's probably not a bad thing.
Following the photo shoot I was placed on the scanner table, resting on a semi-inflated pillow of sorts with my arms holding two posts behind my head....an unfamiliar and pretty uncomfortable position, actually. Some of the air was then released from my pillow, forming a mold which will be used for further placement when my treatments start. I was then passed back and forth under the scanner while my trouble spots were photographed. I was marked with three large Xs and told that I would not receive my reward (the tattoos) until my first radiation treatment. Bummer! The whole process took about twenty minutes and I was released from the room. Efficiency personified!
I was expecting that treatments would begin on the 24th but was told that they will not begin until the 30th...a bit of a disappointment since I am already looking forward to the end of this phase of my adventure..
My oral chemo, Xeloda, was delivered to our door on schedule in the afternoon, accompanied by written information and a DVD explaining the correct use and possible side effects of the meds. I started looking at the material after dinner and quickly decided that it probably would not be my best choice for bedtime reading! Since I won't begin oral chemo until the 30th I am allowing myself a few days of denial before attempting to read it again.
All in all it was a pretty interesting day and I am grateful to be taking this journey now rather than twenty years ago. I know that I am held firmly in the hands of The Master and I am not afraid.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."-Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)
Barb,
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderful description of the whole process. Thanks for letting us be the flies on the wall. (Non disease bearing flies, that is).
In answer to your question, yes. Everyone who in charge of things and running the world is younger than we are. In terms of demographics, we elders are fairly numerous, and we of the warbaby generation are now jumping, slipping or sliding off the cliff of life. It is nature. Luckily we are getting the benefits accrued by the forward thinking baby boomers, but we are no longer in charge.
It took me a while to figure this out, and then I had to realize that I'd better be nice to those younger ones, my former students and your kids and grandkids, because now my fate is in their hands.
It is both humbling and a relief.
Love, j
Spoken as the gifted anthropologist/philosopher/wordsmith you are. You have given me much upon which to ruminate :)
DeleteLove you, sister j.
I love what your sis had to say on this comment! Especially about figuring out how important it is to be nice to those youngins as they determine our fate. Do we slip off the cliff of life - or do they decide to push us if we're not nice???? Ha ha. Beth
ReplyDeleteLove your response, Beth! You and Jan would get along famously :)
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