1 of 33 - First Day Done!

Today’s the Day

This is it. The first official radiation session.

I decided to shower this morning so there’s no lotion or deodorant on my skin when I arrive. I’ve been going back and forth on whether morning or evening showers make more sense, and both have their pros and cons. For now, I’ll try mornings and see how it goes. Honestly, washing my hair is the biggest issue. It’s such a chore with how long it is.

This morning I kept busy by working on the ad to sell our RV. I had a light breakfast, and I’m bringing an apple with me in case I get hungry later. I’m also packing a light sweater just in case it’s cold in the building or I end up needing to wait for a bit.

Tomorrow after treatment, I’ll meet with the doctor. I’ll try to collect any questions or concerns I want to bring up before then.

Today, I’m going alone. I need that. There’s something about going by myself that makes me feel more in control and more centered. I think it’ll help keep me calm.

I walked into the radiation part of the cancer center. I knew what I was doing from the previous dry run. I put on my dressing gown and sat in the radiation waiting room. I left some Love Cards in that waiting room.

The nurse called my name and I walked into the big treatment room. I told my nurses about my mouse and held my little needle-felted fuzzy mouse in my hands during treatment.

I laid on the table and it just took a few minutes to get everything lined up. The nurses came in and told me they were going to retract some parts of the machine and step out, and radiation would start up.

So now it officially begins - the radiation part.

The radiation took about 90 seconds. I felt nothing - it was 100% painless and uneventful. The nurses came in and helped me sit up. I felt dizzy, not sure if it was due to the stress or the fact that I had vertigo last week. But I sat on the table for a few minutes until my head cleared. And as usual, the nurses were so kind and supportive. They talked to me and let me kinda whine about how scary this is and how frightened I am.

When it was all done, I went to change and cried a little bit in the private changing room. On the way out, I stopped and washed my face and straightened myself up. I smiled at the nurses and told them - see you tomorrow! They promised to let me see some treatment pictures tomorrow - so I can see a map or something.

I stopped and picked up a nice lunch for my husband and me, and I drove home. I feel good - physically I feel zero difference. I put on the Aquaphor and now I just need to get ready for tomorrow and 32 more days!