Over the past couple of weeks I have spent time with friends, business associates, family, and I even attended a women’s conference in Southern CA with some girlfriends. We have also said good-bye to Randy’s parents as they left to spend the winter in Arizona and our nephew Daniel received a transfer and returned home to Missouri. Sandwiched in between all of this I battled what I thought were allergies. Evidently I caught something because last week it became worse and I have been on antibiotics.
This week I had the second planning session for radiation and have had two radiation treatments. I am very impressed by how precise the planning is and feel that under Dr. Davis’ care I am in good hands. I will attempt to summarize and share with you the planning session experiences.
During the first planning session laser lights were used to align my body on the table which is called a couch. The alignment included positioning my arms over my head and tilting my head slightly to the right. Once this was completed Dr. Davis came in and marked two X’s and one upside down T on my chest with a black permanent marker. A transparency was used to trace these marks and other identifying areas such as the surgical scar. Polaroid pictures were taken to record the exact position of my body, arms, and hands. And finally, x-rays were taken of my lungs and heart (under the couch is a tray that holds the x-ray film). We then moved to another location for a CAT scan of the head and upper body; films were taken every 3 mil once the machine moved below my head. The total time of the first planning session was about one and half hours.
The x-rays and scans were studied prior to the second planning session which was on Wednesday of this week. The second session took place in the room where I receive treatments. First I was positioned on the couch; the couch is padded from my hips down and metal from the hips up. A sheet was placed on the couch so the metal was not cold and there was a head rest with handles to hold on both sides of the rest. I was further made comfortable with a bolster that was placed under my knees and was covered with a blanket from the warming oven.
Laser lights and the Polaroid pictures were used to align my head, body and arms exactly as they were during the first planning session. Once I was in position Dr. Davis came in and again placed marks on my body with a black permanent marker. The radiation technologists also added marks with blue and purple permanent markers. Another transparency was made to record the new markings and more Polaroid pictures were taken. And finally, a template was made for each of the two areas that will be receiving electron treatments.
During the time of positioning, marking, and the templates being made I was told that seven areas will be treated; five areas will receive photon radiation and two will receive electron. Photon radiation penetrates more deeply and electron less deeply. The two areas receiving electron radiation will be covered with a bolice during the treatment - it looks like a gel pack and simulates extra skin for these areas to further protect the lungs.
I think that pretty much summarizes the two planning sessions. I have been doing some research myself and found a terrific site if you are interested in learning more about radiology http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page1
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