Radiation planning March 7 2010

Today I went to the Fraser Valley Cancer Clinic (FVCC) and I saw the gals in radiology who did some Scans and marking of the breast area that is to be hit with radiation. I think the procedure was an hour or so. The first thing was I watched a video of what would happen, and that took about 15 min to watch. Then I had to get in a gown and get on the table of the machine, and they put me in a certain position.. the same position I have to be in for each radiation treatment. They did a mold of my body shape and how I had my arms over my head, and they did an exact mold so each time I use that to “assume the position”.  Then after they did many different scans in different directions, took pictures with the camera’s… I was then injected with some dye, just a pinprick x 3 so they marked the boundaries of where I would be zapped. Tattooed x 3, it is a small dot.

I have to now wait for the “planning” part of it to be done.. where the radiology gals and the DR decide on the strength of zapping, and the length of each treatment. I know I have to do mon-fri x 5 weeks. The specialist told me that, but I still don’t know  the start date for that.

I have to go for a bone scan tomorrow, and a liver ultrasound ?? no date yet. I imagine they are just looking to see if the cancer might have spread. I’m not sure. Maybe they are looking at baselines before the radiation happens.

I also got a call from Surrey Memorial Hospital  Rehab. I need to go on the 9th for physio. They see breast surgery patients 1 month post to assess how they are doing, and measure post op to assess for lymphedema.

I see my family Dr on Thursday. I still have to do fasting blood work but it’s been to nuts with having to travel to Calgary the day after I saw my Dr, and now having appointments or tests each day. I’m just tired of all of the running.

I got sick when I went to Calgary. Mum had a wicked sore throat, and coughing ++ and I managed to get it (no surprise there). Anyways I’m now in the midst of a sore throat and hacking ++, fever. I tried to get in to see my family Dr tomorrow but she’s already double booked so it was a no go. I feel a bit better today, not coughing up as much gunk so that’s good. 🙂

That is all of my news thus far. I’ve been taking the letrozole, and I do think I am feeling some extra joint pain, more sweats (yahoo!) and definately noticing more PACs.  The pharmacy was closed while I was there at cancer clinic today, but I will ask them about the side effects of letrozole. I imagine, even though I am post menopausal, that the letrozole is driving my estrogen levels down further, thereby increasing my menopausal side effects. That’s my theory anyways and I’m going with it until I hear differently. heheh

…Pam…

4 thoughts on “Radiation planning March 7 2010”

  1. Yes, and while you jump you conquer…think of Zena the ? warrior (not that I watched it but saw the swell costume) and if there are any little swines in there each zap will wipe them out. They don’t have a chance 🙂

  2. Hahahah you goof! .. the shape of a dragon, that is cute 🙂

    I will continue to update the reports as things happen with the walk through the cancer treatments. I’ll report both ups and downs. I am alright tho tired. I think it’s just an accumulation of all that has happened in the last 3-4 months especially. I know M is sick of me saying I am tired. He says ” you are always tired”… and he is right. The radiation is supposed to make you tired, so woo hoo looking forward to feeling even more wiped, but it seems to be one of those hoops to jump through to get through this, and so I jump. 🙂
    …Pam…

  3. When Pam got out of the appointment after the tattooing she seemed a little down. After a bit of prodding it turned out that she was a little disappointed that the tattoo was not in the shape of a dragon…

  4. Pam, we enjoyed the lunch rumble. We will have you in our thoughts
    as you go through the radiation. We look forward to your reports.

    Lots of love Mom and Dad O

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