I’m More Radiating Every Day! (8/16 ✅)

I sit here in the waiting area of  Credit Valley Hospital ready to go in for my 8th out of 16 radiation treatments. 

I’ve been receiving these treatments daily Mon-Fri. They only take 15 minutes but sometimes there can be a lengthy delay. There are 6 radiation areas total. I always go to area 2. I see the same staff usually, but not always (so many people work here!). My appointments are at varying times of day so I rarely see the same patients. Once I did see the same woman 2 days in a row. She was so excited to see me on the 2nd day that she waved excitedly and said “I am so happy to see you again – you were so beautiful to look at yesterday!”  I was so moved I was speechless and it  was a moment in time I will never forget.  The kindness of strangers.

This is kind of a somber place with people being treated for any sort of cancer. We are all anonymous yet somehow linked to each other by our need to be here. I truly feel for the men being treated for bladder/prostate cancer (maybe?) who have to have a full bladder and empty bowels. It is similar to the torture we mothers went through for our ultrasounds during pregnancy without any of the resulting joy.

I have no side effects yet from the radiation. Perhaps a little tired but as a long-time night shift worker – I am ALWAYS a little tired! They say the fatigue and the risk of burns will grow as the treatments continue. 

The staff in this part of the hospital are all very kind – it must have been written into their job description somehow! ? They are quite possibly the nicest in the hospital (with the exception of RTs of course!! ).

They say I am a very good patient. Minimal talking and I don’t move a muscle as they try to line me up for each treatment.  I can only imagine how challenging it can be for them to deal with certain personalities. I try to make my 15 minutes as painless for them as possible. They line me up very methodically for each treatment with rulers and such to get me in just the right position. The 5 tattoos they gave me prior to the start of my treatment help keep them on track. I wasn’t sure what to expect with these tattoos but they look like nothing more than black freckles spaced evenly around my chest. Someone told me that after their friend had finished her radiation treatments she had the tattoos joined to make a design – somehow I DO NOT think I will be doing that! ? 

Radiation sounds big and scary but it has turned out to be just something to get through. When I am finished all my treatments I  am going to Victoria BC for some rest and relaxation. My friend, and former coworker, Sandy, just retired and moved to a beautiful home on the water. She kinda, sorta, maybe suggested I come and before she could change her mind my ticket was booked! It has been lovely to have that in my mind as a goal to get to after this experience. 

Thanks to those of you who called or texted your best wishes and offers of drives etc.  (I’m very happy to be able to drive myself). Thanks also to those who’ve been keeping healing thoughts in their hearts for me. And thanks as well to those who forgot I had started this journey- I forget more than most these days and I TOTALLY understand. ?

Halfway there.