…and then there were 2
Hey y’all. I cannot begin to tell you how excited as I get closer and closer to Thursday – my last day of treatment. As I mentioned early on, I was treated with IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) + chemo therapy (5FU — I *still* want to say FU at least 5 times…a day).
IMRT, is a state-of-the-art radiation delivery system that can treat difficult-to-reach tumors with new levels of accuracy such as tumors by using higher radiation doses than traditional methods would allow in vulnerable areas, while sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue, compared to standard radiation therapy. For example, a tumor that surrounds your spinal cord [or the portal vein] can be effectively treated with IMRT, with very little radiation reaching your cord.
Two ways that IMRT differs from conventional radiation are:
- IMRT employs a powerful, advanced computer program to plan a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions, based on individual tumor size, shape and location;
- IMRT directs radiation at the tumor and modulates the intensity of pencil-thin beams of radiation with laser accuracy.
From cancercenter.com
The image to the right displays four radiation beams from different directions. The red area represents a tumor. The graphs represent how the intensity (higher amplitude represents stronger intensity) of the radiation beam changes as the beam moves from one part of the tumor to another.
Dr. Landry, my oncology radiologist, worked up a treatment plan which called for 14 radiation beams from 8 different directions. To do this, every weekday for the last 5 weeks, I would lie on a table like the one to the right and the radiation machine would rotate around me.
I have 2 more treatments and then I’m done. The question on everyone’s mind, then is: “Merle, you’ve just finished chemo/radiation treatment. What’s next?” Well, I wish I could say that I’m going to Disney World, but that’s not in the cards (at least, not for the a while, but shhhh…don’t tell the kids)! Instead, I’m going to have a party.
For those of you who do not know, I grew up in Maryland (first in Pikesville and then in Easton). While in high school, I worked at several seafood restaurants in Oxford, MD, including The Robert Morris Inn, Pier St. Marina & Restaurant, and the Town & Country Marina and Restaurant. During my time in and around Easton, I developed an incredible appreciation (and appetite) for steamed and seasoned Maryland blue crab.
Thus, my party will be a great big crab feast. I’m going to order a bushel (approximately 6 dozen) of crabs to be shipped down to me here in Atlanta. We’ll reheat the crabs, boil some corn and shrimp; get a pony keg of (good) beer (and lemonade for those who chose not to partake) and have a feast. Friends and family will be invited, but I’m claiming a full dozen crabs for myself, so anyone who snoozes (and is not there when the party begins) may very well miss out on the crabs.
I feel incredibly lucky that I have not had any serious side effects from my treatment. I have been able to (more or less) work over the last 5 weeks and am looking forward to working more steadily over the next couple of weeks. I’m also looking forward to getting back to exercising again (I have had to curtail my exercising because during the week I had bandages on that could not get wet/sweaty). And before you can say it, YES! I will be careful not to push myself (too much)!
Until next time.
Merle
Last night I drove up to the mountains of North Georgia to be with my sons during the last part of their boy scout camp. The weather here is fabulous — a little warm during the day, but it was nice and chilly this morning (the kind of chilly that makes you want to snuggle down in your sleeping bags and enjoy its warmth — unfortunately, the cot I’m “sleeping” on is not particularly comfortable, so I opted for getting up around 6a this morning).