ONE DOWN - FOURTEEN TO GO ....

Yesterday was day one of my radiation schedule …. I feel I've prepared myself as best as I can for this experience … I've read My Journey, asked questions of my medical/radiation team and yes I did Google some too! The best laid plans sometimes never come off and unfortunately Heather wasn't able to get the day off work and all other family and friends were unavailable, so Bill and I set off - I was confident that any fatigue I may experience won't happen until mid next week at the earliest - stopping at Clarke Rubber to purchase the weather strip for the lounge window, we arrived at LVCH half an hour early and managed to obtain a disabled park (Bill has a sticker which we seldom use) in the top car park. By now I was 'hanging' for a coffee, we headed to the café and decided to take advantage of the tranquil comfy radiation centre waiting room and consume it …. oops we upset Brenda (not really she was just pretending) as its her job to provide us with coffee and biscuits. Hannah is my radiation assistant this week and after weighing in (I like my weight better when I'm not fully clothed and with shoes on) I'm shown a row of four cupboards each one bearing an Australian native animal sticker - my gown is on a shelf (complete with my name) in the Ringtail Possum cupboard. After donning this beautiful designer gown, which just meets in the middle but hey I've flashed my boob at so many people the past two months what's a couple more! its off to the radiation 'bunker' I'm introduced to the team in the viewing room who all smile and assure me they will be watching me and can hear me should the need arise that I get traumatised or overcome - which is comforting to know. Off with the gown, hide behind the green modesty sheet and up onto the bed, feet into their correct position - somethings wrong my heads not reaching my 'mould', have I shrunk this past week (wouldn't mind if it was girth not height) nah just needed a minor adjustment on the bed and voila all is good, I lie there looking at the palm trees complete with coconuts on the ceiling whilst Hannah and Sumpta (I think that is the lovely young mans name) ensure that all the measurements are correct and that I'll be zapped in the right spots … then I'm alone in the room with the machine, I lie there silly thoughts going through my head 'glad those trees aren't real, don't want a coconut landing on me' suddenly I'm aware of someone re entering the room and Sumpta is there, handing me the rope to pull myself up and handing me the green modesty sheet once again, I head over to the chair with my basket containing my clothes and as I don my blue gown and wander back to the change room to get dressed, fold up my blue gown and put back into the possum cupboard for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be even quicker I'm told. After a quick interview with Jenny, one of the nurses who gives me a tube of cream and an instruction sheet, answers the couple of questions I have, suggests that I should have a driver each day as fatigue can set in at anytime and without warning - its time to head home. Lyn calls in just after we arrived home - she has a terrible cold and won't come inside so we chat through the security door and arrange some dates she will drive me to Traralgon. Shell rings to see how today went and find out my future appointment times - we work out a couple of dates she is able to take me and tells me to ask Rob to take me somedays, which I've been loathe to do, I know he's my son and he wants to support me but he has a business to run and now is his busy busy time as the grass just keeps growing fast and his clients like their lawns pristine. I take her advice and yep he's happy to do at least one day. Heather calls in on her way home from work - suggests the days she will try to get off to take me. Oh how much simpler it would be if we had Radiology here in Sale as well as Oncology …. maybe one day …. whilst its only a 45 minute drive to Traralgon the return trip takes at least two hours out of your day. Time to get ready for day two.

ARE YOU OK? .... WELL NO - NOT REALLY ...

Sunday 17 November Spring is drawing closer to summer - the days are getting warmer - that's what should happen but here in Gippsland its still been cold and windy. Appointments last Monday with my GP followed by Radiation CT scan and planning so we made it a day out .. I needed a referral signed to take with me to Gippsland Cancer Centre and I've been struggling emotionally the past week or so - I feel I've coped with losing Pete as I'd known for the past 6 years he was on 'borrowed' time but losing Robyn seemed so sudden even though I knew her prognosis was terminal - so I put my 'big girl pants on' and asked for an appointment with a counsellor plus a referral for oncology rehab exercise and a dietician to help me lose some weight. Admitting we are struggling mentally isn't easy to do and I admire those in public life who have come forward recently and sought 'time out' and help. Next stop Rosedale to pick out a purple pot ready to plant the daffodils from Robyns garden, alas the pot place only opens Thursday to Sunday, oh well just have to stop there another time. Onto Clarke Rubber, wasn't quite sure what we needed, served by a most obliging young man Aaron who gave us a sample piece to bring home and try - just what we need so will stop off on our next trip to Traralgon. On to Morwell where I had to return a couple of items I'd purchased on-line but didn't like before a well earned morning tea at Donut King where Shay another delightful young person served us, good customer service with a smile makes such a difference. After a quick walk round Big W it was back to Traralgon, enjoyed a cup of coffee courtesy of Glenda before my scan. After changing into a delightful blue hospital robe, a walk of approximately 20 paces down the passage to the scanning room where I had to disrobe again - flashing my boobs is becoming a regular occurrence and I guess its only going to happen more frequently as the weeks go on!! Alex and Dom were the radiology technicians assigned to 'map' me today ready for commencement of radiation on Wednesday 20th - after positioning me in the position I'll be required to be in for each session a mould was formed ….. the following information is from BCNA and gives a more accurate description than I could! Careful planning is necessary before radiation treatment can begin. The planning ensures that you get the full benefit of radiation with minimal impact on other parts of your body. During the planning session, a radiation oncologist maps out the breast area that needs treatment. The oncologist or radiation technician uses a special X-ray machine called a simulator, and the process is called simulation because the treatment is being "simulated," or not really given. Because it is so important to position the angles of radiation accurately, the planning session can sometimes last up to an hour. The extra time and care during this session will make your future visits run more smoothly and help you get the most from your radiation therapy. You do not receive any treatment during the planning session. Positioning is extremely important in radiation therapy. Your body will be positioned carefully in order to get the best radiation treatment. You will be in the same position during every treatment, and you will have to remain still. To stabilize your position, you will probably be asked to lie in a special "immobilization device" on the treatment table. You may be asked to lie down in a custom-shaped mold that just touches your back and sides; or your treatment center may use a "breast board" that places your head, arm, and hand in a fixed position. Unfortunately, no padding can be used on the treatment table or positioning devices because that makes your treatment position less precise. Pictures will be taken of the area that needs to be treated. Those images are sent to the radiation planning computer, which will help set up the general treatment fields (the areas that get the radiation). After the simulation is done, the dose of radiation you'll receive is calculated, and your radiation treatment is designed over the next few days. This is called dosimetry. Your radiation oncologist works closely with a radiation dosimetrist, who helps further define the best arrangement and size of your treatment fields and is responsible for making sure you receive the correct amount of radiation. Together they establish the size, shape, and number of the treatment fields. The treatment fields are designed to maximize the dose of radiation to the area that needs to be treated and to avoid or minimize the dose to the normal surrounding tissues. My Princess, Lilly Georgia turned 17 and we celebrated with family dinner at Lakeside - the years are flying by way too fast. Tuesday we left Sale at 8.30 with the LVCH Carers Group for an overnight trip - the weather was quite pleasant when we set off however by the time we stopped in Yarragon for refreshments etc it was raining and the wind was blowing a gale (no refreshments for us) It had been 12 years since we last went on Puffing Billy when we did the tourist 'thing' in the open carriages - today we were treated to the Steam and Cuisine trip, the dining cars had been purchased by the Puffing Billy Historical Society back in the early 60's from the Mount Lyle Railway in Tasmania and named after towns along that railway - Mt Lyell, Double Barril, Rinadeena & Teepookana. The food was beautifully presented and restaurant quality - we both had pork rib eye for mains OMG it was huge but so tender and succulent and dessert was decadence at its best, crumbled chocolate mud cake in an espresso martini jelly, topped with chocolate mousse and Chantilly cream. At the end of the three hour round trip we were off to our overnight accommodation in Kalorama, unfortunately our bus driver hadn't done his homework and was relying on good old Google maps so we did a few laps of the Dandenongs! Our room was not overly large but absolutely spotless and quite comfortable …. dinner … yes more food …. Lamb noisettes for me, salmon for Bill (enjoyable but didn't surpass lunch) tiramisu for dessert. Bill spent a lot of time over dinner reminiscing with another couple who were originally from South Gippsland and whom he had known way back when - in fact he and Beryl had worked together when in their teens. Buffet breakfast on Wednesday morning - yes more food - an excellent selection of hot and cold foods to chose from. Homeward bound (bus driver must have done his homework overnight as we didn't get lost once) with a stop at LVCH in Moe for a talk by Corina on Health matters for seniors, I don't think I have ever been so entertained at an information talk/lecture before, this lady knows her stuff and had us all in fits of laughter (we all received a little gift from her - not sure you'd really want to know what it was!! Last stop on our way home was at Green Olive in Traralgon - oh yes more food ...Chicken Duchess and Mars Bar Cheesecake for me, Seafood platter and Banana Spring Rolls for Bill …. everyone just rolled out to the bus - an amazing couple of days and a welcome break for all carers and those they care for. Thursday was spent recovering from an over load of scrumptious food. Friday had a little bit of 'me' time for a cut and colour. Saturday Heather & I had planned to go to Red Katt for lunch but as it was McHappy Day we changed our mind and supported Ronald McDonald House by having a burger for lunch before going to watch Jack & Shell play tennis - it was the first time they had been in opposition teams playing against each other - Jacks team won, rather proud of my grandson he didn't lose a service game all day. Today the weather is still chilly though the sun is finally shining - supposedly going to warm up as the week progresses.