Radiant Radiation

I tried to come up with a catchy title for this entry but this was as good as it got.

My radiation treatment consult on Thursday was extreme to say the least. Information overload and overwhelming. Thankful for the handy dandy memo recorder on my phone because I definitely will be referring back.

Yet, even with my mind racing to comprehend and understand everything, because of my doctor, Dr B as she joyfully introduced herself to me, she made the experience light and pleasant. So endearing with her slight European accent. I was overwhelmed yes, but I left there with a sigh of relief over the decisions I made.

We are still waiting on the results of the Oncotype DX score which as mentioned in the previous post, will determine if chemo will be needed at all. This waiting time is good because she wants me to heal a little bit more.

As she went over my images, surgery, and pathology results, she was thrilled with the prognosis. Repeating the same as my surgical oncologist and medical oncologist, very small, full removal, only two lymph nodes removed, margins clear. The same positive results and conversation.

She then proceeded with the history of how radiation treatments even came about. The trial studies that were performed over sixty years ago began with French doctors and these studies were done on thousands of women with breast cancer from all over the world. These were women who had lumpectomies and whose margins were clear. All of this was to factor in what the risk percentage was of the cancer coming back. Which is the reason for radiation treatment, to optimize the area and lower the risk of reoccurrence. It was really interesting, I'm happy I have it recorded!

She was so gentle with the examination. She could see there may be a little fluid in the breast area, it's normal and it will recede over time. She wants me to check for any additional redness and she did see the breast had changed in look and size. That was something that was explained to me first thing, that my beast will shrink due to the removal of tissue. In explaining the side effects of the radiation treatment, she mentioned there will be a small amount of shrinkage plus some perkiness of the breast.

Well, who doesn't want a perky breast? I'm pretty well endowed, so it will indeed be noticeable, I'll take care of that later.

Then she went over probably the biggest of the side effects, the skin burn. We talked about the cream, but because of my bustiness, she offered me the option of having my treatments in the prone position instead of lying on my back.

Two fold reasoning.

Before treatment can start they will do what is called SIM Mapping. That is where they perform a CT scan in order to see exactly where to direct the laser. This is especially important because of the lungs. The laser cannot go into the lungs. Now, the prone position minimizes that risk tremendously, because I would be face down with the breast inside a cut out area allowing it to be placed away from the lungs. With the size of my breast she feels that's the better option, for which I am inclined to agree.

I was there longer than anticipated because she got called out of the room a couple of times, but time went by so quickly I didn't notice until I had left and there were no more patients in the waiting areas and most of the staff had gone for the day.

Before I left with my recordings, binder, and mind full of information, something beautiful happened.

During the examination, when she was listening to my heart and my lungs, she asked me about the tattoo below my neck. She knew it was a bible verse, but wanted to know what scripture it was.

Proverbs 31:25 [NKJV]

Strength and honor are her clothing

She shall rejoice in time to come

She let out a small light whisper. She asked when I had it done, I told her it's about 30 years old. We both recognized the significance of it now. "Ahh, I had not heard that one like that."

Then she walked over to the counter, pulled out one of the sheets of my information and wrote down the scripture above my name.

"I want to read it."

This reminded me of the operating room moment, when the charge nurse asked about my faith.

I am always, always grateful for opportunities to share my faith, and God's Word.

On tap -

Mapping

Waiting for Oncotype DX

Treatment will begin in a couple of weeks