Treatment still on track

I haven't written much about radiation treatment because -- knock wood -- it's been largely without incident. Well, last Friday I and a bunch of other people were delayed because somebody ahead of us had an incident that required the paramedics to come and take him or her to the hospital. They told us about that much and no more details, but it delayed the schedule by about an hour. I pray that person is all right.

From my perspective, however, the treatment has been almost free of side effects, to a point that almost surprised the doctor when we had our weekly consultation today. I get a little fatigue -- tend to nod off while I'm sitting in my chair watching the tube or reading, especially just after breakfast -- but no nausea/vomiting, no constipation, only one incident of diarrhea, no itching palms and soles of feet, no itching all over. I think overall health is a factor, and I'm doing more therapeutic breathing and have started to exercise some every day

That said, it's fascinating just how much time and attention it takes to be a patient. I have to take my Nexium as soon as I get up, then can't take the Xeloda (chemo by pill) until two hours and a meal later. Take blood pressure and temperature quite a few times a day and take an anti-high-blood pressure pill if it's above a certain level (which it hasn't been lately). Sometimes I am late with a pill or measurement just out of being too interested in other things. You would think it would be simple and there would be plenty of free time, and it treally is. But it's all too easy to slip. So far nothing that has been dangerous or deleterious to the recovery process, but it does require a certain amount of attention.

Staying persistent

Today was both helpful and mildly frustrating regarding medical procedures. Jen and I went to the radiation oncologist and I got a CAT scan to give the doctor information on which to base the treatment regimen. The CAT scan operator was very helpful and informative. She also put a few "tattoos" on my belly to guide the radiation machine operators when the treatment begins. All fine and dandy.

We're still not absolutely sure when the actual treatment will begin, however. Next Wednesday I'll go in for orientation with the radiation technicians, and presumably the first treatment will take place either that day or the next -- but they're not quite sure of that. The treatment cold be postponed until the first week of September, which could potentially pose problems. Due to disability law and the like, I have to be ready to return to work, even if it is working from home, by the first week in October. If radiation isn't quite done by then, it could pose problems if my reaction to radiation is negative. Since my response to chemotherapy has been generally positive, I have high hopes for a reasonably unremarkable bout with radiation, but the effects of radiation are cumulative, which could mean it will be worse toward the end than at the beginning. I don't understand what strikes me as a fairly lackadaisical approach from the radiation folks; we may have to push to get it started earlier.