Radiation: The Real Deal

My amazing team kept me sane and smiling every day.

Radiation.

Invisible beams of waves that eradicate cells, both good and bad.

I rely on this technology to save my life. As the machine moves around my head I close my eyes and imagine a white light and soft hands rested upon my neck, healing it with love.

There’s a beep that begins the moment that the machine starts to work. It’s loud and obnoxious and oddly soothing. It’s so loud that the music playing in the background gets masked which can sometimes be a blessing depending on the song of the day.

My head and shoulders sit inside a green mask that is bolted to the table. My left hand holds a large ring to keep my shoulders comfortably in place. In my right hand I hold a special rock, it’s painted with my three children against a night sky. It fits perfectly in the palm of my hand and is a constant reminder why I endure this painful treatment. Most times I keep my eyes closed to meditate but sometimes I open them and watch the machine circle around my head. I can see my reflection in the glass screen and where the green laser lines set against the mask and my skin.

Above the machine in the ceiling of the room, they have replaced the light covers with a scene of a blue sky with clouds and cherry blossom branches. It’s interesting because it’s near identical to the original theme for Our Only Time. It gives me comfort to look at that view.

And just in time to complete one or two songs, another beep is heard and the machine slowly moves back to its original position. I can hear my team walking back in the room, they usually tell me “nice job” so I know they’re there beside me, because I can’t turn my head and look. I like to give them a thumbs up, letting them know I’m ok. They unbolt my mask and remind me not to move as I’m about 4 feet in the air. The table gets lowered, they help me sit up and I stop to catch my breath before stepping to the ground

Physically, I feel the same leaving radiation as I do walking in. But most days walking in, I have an enormous burn on my tongue or on the inside of my cheek or the back of my throat. Not to mention the condition of my entire neck skin which is red, thick and already peeling. But, I’ve already started my day with pain meds, anti-nausea, antacid and laxatives-gotta keep things moving! So when I get off that table, my heart is racing upwards of 130 bpm. (I know this because they take my vitals daily.) And even though I won’t immediately feel different, my brain knows what I just did, and it sets my anxiety through the roof. I breathe through it and by the time I arrive at my second appt for the day, I’m usually calm again.

About 5-6 hours after radiation, I can usually tell where I’ve been burned the most. Today, it’s my tongue, the roof of my mouth and my cheek near my top molars. That should make eating interesting. Two days ago I went back to a liquid diet because the burn sores prevented me from chewing comfortably. I hate a liquid diet. My salivary glands have been affected from radiation and my mouth is now a constant combination of dry, mucousy saliva. It’s nasty. So add in a thick shake and my gag reflex is continuously ready to go. Oftentimes in the morning, I’m racing to rinse my mouth before I vomit upon waking.

But TODAY, today I completed my 30th and FINAL radiation treatment and I can finally look towards the next few weeks. But before I get too excited I have learned that radiation is like a microwave that keeps cooking once the timer has beeped. You know those directions that say, “let food sit before consuming” that’s because it’s still cooking. And for the next few weeks, I’m still cooking. So my throat, my mouth and neck will continue to feel the effects of the radiation doing it’s job-killing both good and bad cells. I don’t know what to expect from my body in particular, but they did tell me what NOT to expect.

“Don’t expect to wake up and feel better. The height of the pain will come this weekend and should plateau for about 2-3 weeks. Then, you will start healing.”

So I wait. First I wait until Monday for my final round of chemo. Then I’ll wait for the 5-6 days that chemo wreaks havoc on my body. Then another week or two for the healing process to begin. It’s ok. I’m used to waiting by now.

It’s been a LONG road so far. Months, really. But we’re nearing the third leg of the race; healing and recovery. I’m so close I can taste it-well, I could taste it if radiation hadn’t seared my taste buds!! But I can ALMOST taste it!!

And along this road, I’m so grateful for you. You, who read what I write for the better understanding of what my daily experience is. You, who want to be informed so you can support me. You, who love me every step of the way. You, who sent me love, well wishes, a surprises on this final day of treatment-knowing what an enormous day today is. I am SO grateful for you. Your encouragement gives me the strength to get through each obstacle to healing. One step at a time.

Today, I’m done with radiation!!!!