Who knew how much of your time people want after a funeral. I will get back to publishing weekly after this post.
On July 9th I drove to Kansas City to see the radiation oncologist. I had said I wouldn’t go back to KC until after John was done with swimming for the season. He finished with league at Burlington, CO on July 6 & 7. Then had his only county fair activities on Sunday, July 8. So I didn’t get much of a break.
This quote is on the Martin Luther King, Jr memorial in Washington DC. I was very moved when I saw it in August of 2017 and that was before the cancer diagnosis.
When they called to set up the appointment I didn’t have the heart to ask for a different time. She had offered Monday, July 9 at 2:00 pm. That meant we could at least drive in that morning. I had made the appointment while I was having my last chemo treatment and I was expecting Mike to go with me.
I had a lot of people offer to go along with me to this one, but I thought it would help me if I went alone. I set up lunch on the way back with a friend in Salina and to go to the CTS pre/post op where we had spent so much time that the staff members were now good friends.
So alone it was. I left early Monday morning to have plenty of time for lunch and if I had trouble finding the office. They had given great directions, so I had no trouble finding the radiation clinic.
I checked in at around 1:30, I think. I don’t think I had too long of a wait and they came and got me. Remember this is less than a week after Mike’s funeral and I’m still in a bit of a daze.
The nurse came in and started explaining things to me about what would happen that day. Then the resident came in and explained to me about radiation. I’m sure she went over all the side effects, but when Mike’s sister asked about them I could only remember the radiation burn and fatigue. Hopefully, those will be the only ones I have because they are the ones I remember.
I said something about Mike to the nurse and everyone else who came in after seemed to have been briefed. The doctor, resident, and a medical student came in and explained more about the process and about a study she is doing. The standard of care in the US is to have radiation therapy for seven weeks, the standard of care in Europe is four weeks with the same machine. So her study is to show that the four-week treatment is as effective as the seven-week one. The four-week study would get me finished before John starts his senior year, so I was interested in that. When can I start?
Just another western Kansas sunset
Next, I saw the social worker who takes care of the study. We went over the paperwork. She said that if she could get the insurance company to pre-approve me I could start the next Monday. Otherwise, I would start on July 23.
The doctor and crew came back and said she would like to do my planning session the next day. Great, let’s get this going. I would need a CT scan so they could pinpoint where the radiation beam would be focused and they would mark me.
I had asked previously if they could mark me with something fun like a heart or butterfly but was told about a tattoo artist who could make something fun out of my tattoos after I was done. I told her I really wasn’t that interested in any tattoos and she said they have an alternative.
So, I returned early the next morning for my planning and marking session. The alternative marks are with a paint pen that they cover up with clear plastic discs so they won’t wash off. I was given a few of the discs in case any of mine fell off. I did a survey for the study and was on my way back home.
I hadn’t really had any time to think and this trip was no different. It really didn’t hit me that I was alone until I drove by the farm, about six miles from town. Then I went out to the cemetery and had a good cry.
All I can do is Hold On Forever.
Onward! Radiation Treatments.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
