Day 230 - Radiation #18... not so much

Today was radiation #18. However, when I got there, the machine was broken. So I waited for awhile to see if the machine would be fixed. It got fixed. I got on the bed and was all ready to go and then it was broke again. Sigh. So now my last treatment isn't until September 17. Still 28 sessions, but now it's extended an extra day. But what can you do? Nothing really. I could have waited to use LINAC 3, but that would mean that they would have to squeeze me in at 8p. Um, no thank you. I'm in bed by then. But it was very interesting nevertheless. I got some pictures of the machine. The LINAC was "upside down" and it was in a position I had never seen. It's been in that position, however, I have always been on the bed getting zapped. But it was interesting to see it from a different perspective. I also got pictures of Rebecca, Linea and Beth. So when I'm not too lazy and so interested in watching Caillou, I'll post pictures.

So, I still have a fact for today... Fact #18a: Today I got to see the computer system that is designed for my treatment. It's all computerized... to some degree. On the screen it has the five radiation fields that are designed for me. The just have to click on one and then they computer does the rest... in terms of setting up the field. So Dan picked my clav area and when he clicked on it, it showed the coordinates, dosage and stuff needed to line me up. In addition, there's a little animated box that shows the MLCs and the shape it makes. It animates as the keys are moving. Too cool. So each zap does the same thing... the machine sets up according to the computer.

So as I was waiting the second time... I saw many people going into the radiation room. One of them happened to be, Dorothy, the chair of radiation therapy. That would be Dan, Linea, Rebecca, etc. boss. She stopped and introduced herself to me. She apologized. I said "so what, it happens." I mean, what are you going to do... sit there and seeth? Nope, that isn't going to help any. Beth said that lots of people tend to get upset. But honestly, don't sweat it. That's one thing that I've learned is that it's pointless to get upset over certain things. It's not going to help. But after the second time it was broken, they said that they have to take the machine apart. So then I went home. Just a little bummed I won't be ending treatment on 9/14. But what are you going to do? I'd rather have a working machine that is radiating the appropriate places on my body. Oh yes, Dorothy said that there are checks the system goes through, so if there's one part that isn't functioning well, then it shuts down. Good checks and balances system!

Oh yes, I met a woman in the waiting area. She also had stage 3 breast cancer. She had an aggressive form. She said she went in for a mammogram in August - nothing there. Then in January... I think that's what she said... she went back to the doctor because she found the lump. In any case, she had a lumpectomy, but they found that the lump went all the way to her muscle. Wow! That's crazy. In anycase, she had four lymph nodes involved. So they ended up doing chemo on her after the lumpectomy. She had 6 rounds. Following that, she is in for 38 treatments of radiation. But I think that she's dealing with lymphedema because I saw a compression wrap on her arm. Her hair was growing back really nice. She had a wonderful smile. She works there at OHSU. So we chatted a little about the infusion room on the waterfront and being positive about treatment and beating this awful disease.

Until next time....

Day 227 - Radiation #15: A Backup Plan

I can now say I am more than half way through my radiation treatment! Yippee!

 

Today I didn't get in until 1p. They were running late because the other LINAC machine was out for repairs. I guess it wasn't a "planned" maintenance. Which brings me to Fact #15: There's a back up plan! There are two machines that do the same thing. So, like today, patients who normally have treatment on a different machine can use "my" machine. The two radiation machines are calibrated the same so if one goes down, the other machine can be used. Interesting. I still hope mine doesn't go down! So while I was getting lined up today, I saw the machine do some things that I normally don't see.

 

As promised, I posted a few pictures of the LINAC 1 (sorry for the spots on the lens):



 

LINAC 1 at OHSU's Kohler Pavillion: Radiation Oncology.
The whole unit rotates around. You can see the bed I lay on
in the lower riht hand corner and the handle I hang on to.

There are two of my "regulars" Andrea & Dan(imal).

If you went online today, you may have seen that GMA's Robin Roberts will be going on medical leave. Most likely she will be getting full body radiation to suppress her immune system. Remember the TBI I showed you? She may be getting radiation treatments using that. I don't know for sure, but it's a possibility.

Tomorrow I meet with my Rad Onc, Dr. Marquez and that's about it. Oh yea, I get x-rays taken of my body, then treatment.

Day 221 - Radiation #11 T.B.I.

Well, I am in week #3! Yea! I am not halfway through (that will be after treatment 14), but I am so close to being there! Today I had my dose of radiation and then met with Dr. Marquez. It was nice because I slid in right before a consultation, so I didn't have to wait long. I didn't spend too long with her because there really wasn't anything to go over or to talk about. She looked at my chest and said that I was pinking up a little. I have no symptoms - sore throat or lymphedema. My fatigue level has remained constant (tired because of the hour at which I work). She is sooo awesome. So happy I went with Dr. Marquez.

Radiation - Dan was back today. He was on a mini-vacation. So I baked him cookies. Linea was there, so I told him that he has to share with her! I must say those two are my favs! Sorry to everyone else I have worked with during treatments. Since today was Tuesday, it was time for my weekly x-rays. They took I think two or three pictures. It's so cool... the top part of the LINAC machine "takes" the x-ray... and then on the bottom of the machine, a piece folds out and forms the "bottom plate" for the x-ray... kind of like in the old days where x-rays were taken on films instead of digital. Anywho, this is done to make sure that I am lining up correctly for my treatments. Then it was zap x 5!

Fact #11 - I learned about T.B.I. or Total Body Irradiation. There's this machine that sits in the corner of the radiation room. It looks like a medievel torture device. But it's the TBI. It's used to radiate the whole body. Linea says they turn the radiation machine on its side and then the person gets into this "device" and they radiate the whole body. It's used a lot with leukemia patients who are about to get a bone marrow treatment. They have to kill or suppress the immune system in a patient's body. There's stuff to block out radiation to the lungs. The contraption is meant to hold the patient as still as possible. There are handles on the side which they can hold on to and a bicycle seat they can sit on. Yea, doesn't look too comfy to me. I'd rather be lying in the supine position on a hard board for 20 minutes.

This is what the contraption looks like.

This is how the LINAC machine is turned for
full body radiation. See how it's on its side?

 I'll have to take a picture of LINAC one... as well as all the techs that I work with... they're all awesome!

Day 217 - Radiation #9 LINAC

It's Friday!!! No radiation for TWO whole days! Yipeee! Actually radiation isn't bad. It's the driving back and forth which is taxing. So not to drive to OHSU is a real treat. Not much is new. Getting my radiation every day. My skin on the left hand side is pinker than the right side. I'm not feeling too much or if any, discomfort. I really can't complain... this is cake compared to chemo!

So my treatments are comprised of five "zaps." Two are for the supraclavicular nodes. The first one is taken from the front... shooting down right on top of me. The second (the wedge is used) is taken from the underside up. The first one I am radiated for about 17 seconds. The second zap is about 10 seconds. Following the first two doses, the bolus is put on top of me and I am radiated from the top, but at an angle. The x-ray beams are being "shot" over my right boob. That's about a 23 second zap. While it's zapping the MLCs are moving into different shapes. Then the machine moves again... around to my left side... a couple of degrees below horizontal (shooting up... sort of on my side/back) and then zaps me for about 20 seconds. Then the MLCs move and I get zapped for 4 seconds. And that concludes my radiation session. :)

Fact #9 - I am using LINAC 1 for radiation at OHSU. LINAC stands for linear accelerator... and the 1 stands for machine #1. Dean gave me my fact of the day... and I digested as much as I could... so here goes. So there are particles in the machine... they get super-charged or "excited" and change into electrons which generate the x-rays... which are then used to kill the harmful cells. There's more... but I forgot some of it and need a refresher from Dean!

Thanks Wikipedia for this image. This is a patient treated with linear acceleration radiation in 1957. The little boy had his eye removed due to cancer and the other one was treated with radiation because there was a tumor in it. He wasn't the first, radiation treatment had been used since 1953. But take a look at that machine! Holy cow... maybe it was good he couldn't see it too well! I'd be scare outta my mind!