My Radiation Consultation...

Today I had 2 appointments, one with the Oncologist and one with the Radiologist.

My oncologist just basically did a follow up from my surgery. You know checked my incision, and my blood pressure, my blood count etc. A pretty simple visit. I tried to get out of going to Radiation but she wasn't having it. I just didn't understand if all the cancer was removed during surgery, why radiation?

Now on to the Radiation consultation. First we (my husband and I) checked in with Michelle, she took down general information, like name, addy, phone, emergency contact etc. Then we talked with nurse Donnie, well I should say we met with Nurse Donnie, because she did most of the talking. She first went over how I found the lump, and all the procedures I had up to this point. She also went over my medical background, past surgeries and stuff.

Then she proceeded to tell us what to expect during radiation. Like how it's kinda like an X-Ray, and I won't feel anything in the beginning, I won't be sick or constipated. I may be a little tired, but not like chemo tired. She said I will get burned like a sun burn, and my skin may peel and become irritated, and that I need to stay moisturized... but it will clear up about a month or so after the treatments........She also said they will build a mode of my body, and oh yeah they will tattoo small marks on my body, (yeah I said tattoos)...and she said a whole bunch of other stuff. I mean she talked and talked and talked. I can say she was very informative and she knew her stuff.

Then after Nurse Donnie, the Radiologist came in (I can't spell or pronounce his name). He kinda reiterated everything that Nurse Donnie went over. He did add, that there is a small 2% risk that the radiation itself could cause cancer. And a small very small sliver of my heart will get radiated, and in about 3 or 4 years I will need a stress test on my heart to make sure it's ok he did assure me that the risk of it not being ok is also small...... A part of my lung will get radiated, and apparently that shouldn't effect me either because it's only a small piece...... So I am still in need of prayer.

He also let me know why I still needed to have radiation. When I was first diagnosed, and had a pet scan the scan showed that I had some abnormalities at the base of my neck that my be cancerous..and even though the pathology report showed the cancer were removed, I could still have some cells behind my muscles, and the radiation will kill those left over cells if any are there.

After talking to the radiologist, I went to have a cat scan, and to get the mode made...the mode is so I will lay exactly the same way every time. Ok before the cat scan, the sticker lady came and put about 20 stickers on my chest area. Why? They didn't tell me. I'm pretty sure they were to mark something. What? I don't know.......So for the cat scan I had to lay there and not move for what seemed like an hour...but I think it was more like 15 mins or so...And as soon as the scan was over, the nurses came and tatted me up. granted the tats are only about as big as a pin head. none the less they are still tattoos and permanent... Now the tattoos are so they can radiate the same spot every time...like markers.

After all this...I go back to talk with Michelle to get my free parking pass...yeah I get to park free at the hospital during my radiation. Because I have to go everyday Monday thru Friday for about 30 mins a day. Do you know how much that would be...let's just say a lot. (I should just go and park just because...lol)

Ok so I start Radiation on Monday 9/14/09, and my last treatment is 10/31/09. So hopefully my skin won't be to irritated that I don't want to put clothes on and I can go back to work in Nov. We'll see...and I will keep you posted as I go thru my radiation treatments....


Miko..

Women please do your self exams, and/or get your mammograms on time. Breast Cancer is not prejudice.....If you are a woman you are at risk.

P.S. Men can get Breast Cancer too...