Radiation Treatment

The last time I talked to my oncologist (July 7) she suggested I could have some radiation treatments for the pain in my hip.  I hadn’t complained of pain in my hip but she had my test results so I guess she could see it. 

It’s the bone in your butt that you sit on, the ischial tuberosity<--- link.   It’s just a dull ache most of the time.   That is the first bone that the cancer moved to and it was biopsied in Sept. 2008. 

I thought about it for a few weeks and have decided to take advantage of the offer.  I called and an appointment with a radiologist was set up for today. 

This was a talk only appointment.  The doctor suggested 4 weeks of 5 days a week treatments.  The cancer is replacing my bones and leaving them weakened – like swiss cheese.  

The radiation will kill some or all of the cancer cells and then I can replace them with normal bone cells.   There are possible side effects which don’t sound like fun.  Everything has side effects.

The deciding factor for me was that this radiation treatment could help prevent my pelvis from breaking.  That doesn’t sound like fun.  Can they put your a$$ in a sling or cast?  I’d just as soon not have to find out.

So tomorrow I go for a CAT scan to identify exactly where the bones are.  I will get a couple of tiny tattoos (woohoo)  so they know where to do the treatment.  Maybe I can talk them into making those tattoos something decorative, like stars maybe.

Then next week I will start the treatments.  I hope they don’t mind seeing me in the same old clothes over and over.  I don’t have a big wardrobe, mostly jeans and t-shirts. 

I had a personal escort to show me where the proper parking spot for this treatment was.   That was after I went to the wrong entrance.  The right entrance happens to be where the trucks park when they deliver stuff to the hospital.  

I now have a parking pass hanging from my rear view mirror which will keep me from getting a ticket while parked there.   The officer took the ticket for today off my windshield when I showed him the pass.

The one thing I have noticed since all this started 2+ years ago is that everyone I have come in contact with has been cheerful and helpful and kind.  That includes the doctor I met with today. 

Bandit and Teddy will have to get used to being left for a short while each day.   Yesterday I went for  a walk to the post office with the dogs.  We happened to meet a woman walking 2 small poodles. 

Bandit snapped and snarled at one of the poodles.  I was not happy about it and let him know.  We may have to work on that some more.   I think he is just so happy to have  a “person” now that he gets worried about it being threatened.  Maybe he is just a grumpy old man.  Maybe I’ll become a grumpy old woman….

later….