That One Brain Cancer Blog: Radiation Round 1: Complete

As of 7/26 I am complete with this round of radiation. It was a 32 treatment plan and lasted about six weeks. It’s been about two months now since I was diagnosed with cancer. It has been a very hard time transitioning from a normal life style, filled with a lack of consequences and wondering what and where I'm going next Friday night to a life style where everything is questioned. Will this diet work, is this treatment helpful, what will my quality of life be in 2,6, or 12 months. They are thoughts that I commented in my last post that make you anxious. I try not to think about them too much.

THE MACHINE (it's rad)

With radiation completed, we play a bit of a waiting game. I have my next MRI in six weeks, and from there we will see what the next plan of action will be taken. Pray for some shrinkage, which I feel like it has, since I lost most of the symptoms. As I have been saying, it’s all a craps game from here, I could get lucky and have this thing go dormant for a while. As statistically rare as this cancer is in my age group maybe the odds are in my favor,(little hunger games reference). And if that’s the case, should I go buy a lottery ticket while my family vacations to Florida and use these incredible odds for some kind of beneficial gain? Maybe run a casino out of business? Eh, why not. Well, keep your eyes on the news for updates on that, should be national news. Hey, I could donate the winnings to research of this crappy cancer. Call it craps for cancer.

My thoughts on radiation. It really wasn’t that bad. The experience was pretty easy, I would go to the radiation center every day at 3pm and meet up with my radiation therapist Corey and Jessica, sometimes there would be a third person, but usually just these two lovely ladies. I would be put on a table and strapped down with a mask we made weeks earlier. I would lay there for about 10 minutes and be bombarded with the glorified x-ray radiation. Then it was done and I could go about my day. Though post radiation was usually filled with fatigue so I would just go home and rest for the remainder of the day.

Ms. Shannon and Ms. Kim

The entire staff at Clearview Cancer Center is incredible and I want to thank them in this post. Ms. Kim and Ms. Shannon always have a smile on their face when I walked in for treatment. There positive attitudes in spite of the gloom in a room full of cancer patients really helped brighten my day. Jessica and Corey were always in high spirits as well, I am sure I will miss them as part of my daily routine. The rest of the staff as well is always there being supportive or offering a hello with an inspirational attitude.

Jess and Corey

Finally I would like to think my Oncologist, Dr. Estopinal and his staff for their continued support and treatment. He has been the man who is spear heading my case, and has assured me that he is looking into every lead. He has been nothing less than a blessing to my family and myself.

Hopefully I won’t be visiting Clearview for more treatments any time soon, but the staff there did make my time enjoyable. Thank you to all the staff at Clearview.

Next goal, get back to a better weight. I'm slowly being waned off the steroids that are giving me this danged moon face and makes me want to eat everything in sight.