MY 33 RADIATION TREATMENTS
MY 33 RADIATION TREATMENTS
On September 24th, 2001, I had the radiation simulation, along with some permanent very small x tattoos. The simulation procedure took about 1 hour to do and was done by taking special measurements and using an x-ray machine with a red line beam. Then the areas were marked with a black magic marker, which was removed at home with rubbing alcohol. The permanent tattooing was done by sticking the skin with a small needle, which had some ink in it. I had 4 little x tattoos, of which only 2 stung slightly for just a moment. The simulation had to be done to pin-point the area where the tumor had been, so that when the radiation was done, that it would be directed in the right places.
On September 25, 2001, I began taking the 1st of 33 radiation treatments. It was truly "a piece of cake" throughout all the sessions! I took 1 treatment a day 5 days a week for 6 and a half weeks. The machine would zap me on the right side of my right breast for about 10 seconds and then it was moved to the left side of the right breast, where it would then zap me for another 10 seconds. Totally a painless process!
On October 23rd, 2001 , I took radiation treatment #21. On that day, simulation was done again, in order to zoom in more closely to where the location of the tumor was. I was also given 2 new small x tattoos, which were totally painless.
On October 30th, 2001, I began the last 8 radiation treatments, which were the "boosters." These radiation treatments were more intensified treatments, directed in one area only, where the tumor had been. Each treatment was only a 30 second zapping. Again, there was no pain at all involved!
My last radiation treatment was given on November 8th, 2001! WHOOOOO-HOOOO! HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!
During each daily trip to get my daily "zapping", I would do something to "treat" myself each day. Some days, I would go by a restaurant and treat myself to a breakfast biscuit. Other days, I would take a more scenic route back to work. Still yet, on some days, I would actually find myself observing some of God's beauty creations of this earth. This kept the running each day from becoming a dreaded event. In fact, I rather got use to treating myself to something pleasant before going to work each day!
Something that I did, which I believe kept me from getting a radiation burn on my skin, was to use a #45 sunscreen on my skin before having the last 8 treatments. I only became a little reddish brown on the skin that was treated, which later on faded away. I should have used the sunscreen from the #1 radiation treatment. I believe it really did "save the day!"
Please click on Side Effects Of Radiation, on the main page, to learn more.
I THANK GOD FOR GETTING ME THROUGH ALL OF THIS ORDEAL SO WELL! I would have never gotten along as well, if not for HIM!!!
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