"What's Radiation like?"

I've been asked this enough to make me realize that i haven't written much about my daily experience at MD Anderson. Lemme give it a shot here:

It takes me about 45 minutes to get to MD Anderson from where i'm staying in Kingwood. The Radiation Treatment Center has free Valet parking for us "Bunion-laden", so i pull up and hop out. I'm getting to know the people who park the cars. They are real nice, hold the door open for you and don't accept tips. The lady at the check-in counter greets me with "Good morning, Mrs. Woodard" and the other girl often compliments me on my jewelry. (I like her). The security guy gave me directions to Westheimer today, accompanied by some restaurant recommendations.

I finally know my way around the labyrinth of hallways, so i can get there quickly. I haven't had to wait more than 10 minutes once i arrive at my Treatment area, but while i wait i read and/or eavesdrop and people-watch. When its my turn, one of the Radiation techs comes out to escort me to the Room with the Machine. I am getting to know them pretty well, also. They are all really nice; 2 are close to my age.

I have to give them my card, which has my Patient Number on it. With this, they pull up my file, which has coordinates for the machine, as well as all other details of my Knee-Bunion. I only have to remove my shoes and roll up my pants before i hop up on a table, which is attached to the Theratron 780-C.

This Big Machine that's battling the Bunion is crazy. It's a big, white "C" shaped thing with some big cables coming out of it. It gives radiation and takes X-rays. The techs use a remote to make it rotate completely around the table. They also make adjustments based on some numbers in my files...its quite a problem-solving ordeal they go thru to get the right angles.

To ensure that they hit the same spot everyday, they have marked all over my leg with blue and red markers. In case the markings wear off, i got 2 permanent dots tattooed on my knee. They also made a mold of my legs to keep them in the same position . It's made from a bean-bag that had the air sucked out of it to keep the indentation in place. Other people's molds are stored in the room, hanging or placed on shelves. They look like weird sculptures of faces, arms, legs, etc...with numbers written on them.

So, i lay on this table that is moved up and down, until i'm in the Right Spot. We chat while they set the Theratron to the right coordinates, then they leave the room to start the radiation. The lights are lowered so they can see a laser that lines up with the markings on my leg, so its very relaxing. Sometimes i stare at the ceiling and marvel at how i can see faces in the oddest of random patterns. I wonder what other people see while daydreaming....i wonder about all kinds of stuff, think, brainstorm and pray.

The machine is so quiet that, at first, I didn't even know that i was getting treatment . Now i can tell when the machine turns on and off, but i had to ask the tech what to listen for. Its a slight hiss and that's all. I don't feel anything at all during treatment. At this point, i don't hardly feel anything after treatment, either.

This is due to change eventually. Sometimes i think i feel warmth in the affected area, but i'm not sure if i'm imagining that or if its because i'm in Houston and its flipping hot here. I'm told that eventually the skin will feel itchy, become red and sensitive. There are things they've advised me to do to take care of "the Area" to minimize these side effects.

The entire treatment lasts 10-15 minutes, then i go and get my car and i'm off! Today i explored Westheimer, in search of one of Roly's Recommended Eateries. Even though i had to turn around a few times, pissing off more than a few Houstonians, I finally found the Avalon Diner!! It was yummy food and delicious atmosphere. Eating alone ain't so bad when its in a fun place.

Aside from being slightly inconvenienced with temporarily relocating, this hasn't been so bad. Tomorrow i am going to venture into the museum district and get me some culture!