Radiotherapy Prep

       Last week got some greatly welcomed news from my Haematologist. I was told that he and his other colleagues decided that radiotherapy would be the best treatment for me and my lymphoma, and chemotherapy is now only a back up plan. Sweeeet!

     

Celebratory tea with Leisl, Mum & Nan

       I also forgot to mention that my beautiful friend Leisl came and stayed with me last week (all the way from Queensland!) while Jacob was away. It was so lovely and we had such a fun, relaxing time that we didn't take any pics of the two of us together! Silly. We swapped stories of hilarity, had many laughs, drank numerous cups of tea, reminisced of 3 hour kayaking expeditions and 6 hour mangrove explorations plus many more strange adventures. I was so sad to see her go at the end of the week, but was so grateful she gave up her time to come visit me! So here is a collage me and the lovely girl.

       After the celebrations (we didn't go too wild), I had my prep appointment at the brand spankin' new Cancer Centre at Gosford Hospital. I wasn't really aware of what was to come that appointment, and it turned out to be quite interesting.

       Firstly I was introduced to the Radiotherapy Specialist Doctor who will be looking after me. She looked at my CT scans, PET scans and all the other documents I luckily brought along. The PET scan results are on a CD which the doctor put in the computer and it was amazing (& hugely hilarious), because there, on the screen, was a little skeletal version of me spinning around slowly! When the Doctor was out of the room, I made mum stand guard while I took a video - check it out ----->

        Hilarious!

       After it was recommended I eat some Banana Bread (my stomach was rumbling so loud the doctor could easily hear) I was sent into a CT scan room where they laid me on the bed and prepared a face mould for me. They make a mould of my face and then each time I have radiotherapy, I have to wear the mask so that I'm always in the same position. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to make. The mould is a net kind of material and they wet it in warm water to make it malleable and then lay it on my face. It felt like a hot towel at first, but after about 10 minutes it started to harden up around my face and neck. It was slightly suffocating, and I'm really not sure how somebody with claustrophobia would cope with it. Once it had set they scanned me.

This is not me, but this was almost exactly what it looked like. Mine went down to the top of my chest though. And see how they clip it into the bed, There is no escaping it easily, that's for sure.

       Finally they took the mask off and I was ready to leave. All the prep work done. Just before I left the room, I just happened to glance in the mirror to discover my new 'mask mould accessory' had given me some nice features on my face. A sort of reptilian pattern on my skin. I suppose it was expected after having a bit of net stretched over my face for 50 minutes. I had many nicknames that afternoon. Lizard Lady, Honeycomb Head, and one lady said I looked like a Mermaid. I'm not sure which I prefer best?

This was taken when it had started to fade, it was much worse. Trust me.

       I have a date and timeline for my actual treatment. I start the 3rd of June at 9.15, and I have 10 sessions. One a day for two weeks.


Honeycomb Head x (I think I prefer this one)