First week of treatment

Okay, so it was only three days of treatment and I didn’t start the chemo drug until Monday night (doctor’s order), but it’s a milestone. I didn’t have any negative side effects. There were a few stomach growls and odd feelings or twitches during those three days that made me wonder. However, it was just my mind searching for something to happen.

As expected, the first radiation session took a while. The same two technicians who handled the simulation were there along with two other people. I wasn’t sure if they were the same as the last time. They spent what seemed like a lot of time getting me in the proper position. I never felt I was properly in either the upper or lower molds. Since I was face down, I couldn’t know for sure, only that it didn’t feel right. They did get me in the position they wanted and said everything lined up correctly. After that they gave me my first treatment. I think I was in the treatment room a little over a half hour.

For my second treatment I only had two technicians and they were not the two I had worked with previously. Also, we were in a different room. I really like the two “new” technicians. The woman who seems to be in charge explained the process and told me I would see them and be in that room for the rest of my treatments unless a problem occurs. The second and third treatments went much faster than the first and I felt I was properly in the molds. Once in the proper position a treatment still takes around ten minutes or so. I think the actual radiation takes just two or three minutes, but they have to get some images first.

The chemotherapy isn’t a big deal since I am taking tablets rather than having to get it through an IV. I take three 500 mg Xeloda tablets after breakfast and three more after dinner on the days I have radiation treatments. At this point, it’s like taking any other medication.

I am happy with the way the first three days of treatment went and the fact that I felt fine afterward. That gives me confidence going into my first full week. I believe I have a very good chance of getting through it with no, or few, problems.