Treatment at Last

I finally got a treatment today. It was a bit of an anticlimax, actually.

First, there was more simulation work, this time with these lead shields that were created to narrow the radiation field down so that it was just hitting what needed to be hit. The shields were these large pieces of shiny metal material. They were about four inches thick and there were ovals cut out of them. They looked like they had been cast and then machined into shape
I asked Erica the tech if they were lead and she said they were a blend of lead and something else so that they were not so heavy.

Today’s simulation did not take half as long as yesterday’s, for which I am grateful. The back of my head is still sore from yesterday.

After this was done, they led me down a hall and past a large heavy metal door and into the treatment room. There were signs all over the place about “dangerous radiation.” Along one wall was a rack of various lead shields like the one made for me.

I asked Dr. Han what kind of radiation I would be getting. She said that it was a high-energy dose of X-rays, higher than that used to diagnostic imaging.

I lay down on the table and was bolted in. They had some interesting music playing, sort of modern big band and Dixieland jazz. My kind of stuff and I felt good about that.

I was told to keep my eyes closed but to keep looking straight up. This was hard because after a while, you can’t tell where you are looking when you have your eyes closed.

The machine buzzed for a while. Erika came in and changed the shield and left. The machine buzzed again and it was over. During the buzzing, I tried to feel something. Was there any sensation to this? I felt like my sinuses were having some pressure, but I could not tell if this was my own imagination. I felt nothing, really.

So much for that.

I go again tomorrow and for another 11 times. This may actually get boring.