radiation #19 today and a simulation to prepare for the last seven days of boosts. dr. rost told me that after doing all the calculations, i can't have radiation + boost simultaneously because the tumor area is so close to the chest wall. he explained it in detail, and the bottom line is, i'm back to finishing in very early july.
i had lunch and a wonderful visit with matt today. he's leaving for london tomorrow on business!
in the waiting room today:
- a man with lung and brain cancer, whose wife and daughter were with him, both holding rosaries. the wife told me she hasn't had a mammogram in several years. after we talked a while, she said she's motivated to get one. one look at my sort of bald head and flat chest should be motivation enough. i would think walking past the chemo room to the radiation area really should do it.
- a woman in her sixties who had breast cancer which spread to five of her lymph nodes and she had 18 nodes removed. she has terrible lymphedema in her left arm. she had four chemo treatments and is having 35 radiation treatments. she drives up from tahoe evey day for radiation. she is very upset that her surgeon didn't consult her about leaving a flap for reconstruction on her side. she didn't want reconstruction or a flap and she told her surgeon that, but the surgeon did it anyway in case she "changes her mind" about reconstruction. can you imagine?? i told her about dr. buchwald asking me if i was sure, that "you never know when the right man will come along and you'll want two bumps." i will never forget that idiotic statement. it was fun to tell buchwald that is NEVER going to happen since i'm gay, and by the way, is she nuts?? i never went back to her after that.
- a very young man who is tall and gaunt, whose pants are loose and he kept pulling them up and tightening his belt, whose long hair is falling out. he walks partially bent over. i watched him working on a puzzle at the table and felt very tender toward him. he's probably the same age as my sons.
6 comments:
I enjoy people watching in the waiting room ... I also love to learn a tiny bit about them ... to make them just a bit more human.
Just stopping by after being away far too long to say hello, send my love and best wishes. moved mom to a nursing home last week as her memory declines ... and got a used 10-22 on eBay that seems to work just fine.Now to learn how to use it!
Hang in there, tiger!
I like to people watch too. I did it the other day when I went for my bloods. I had a dreadful migrane so stopped at the hospital cafe, ate a (horrid) sandwich, had a mug of tea, took some pain killers and watched.
I have got to know so many people through this experience.
dear daria, i agree, and these hours in the waiting rooms and treatment rooms has made me a much more compassionate person.
dear scott, i'm sorry to hear about your mom. you're a good son. you will love that 10-22. i can't wait to see what you do with it! i'm hanging in there, tiger.:)
dear sara, i think hospital food could kill us. :) i agree with what you said about meeting so many people through this experience. it's a completely different world than i lived in before diagnosis. i had no idea how many wonderful people i would meet (including you), how many true friendships i would make during this time. i also had no idea that medical oncologists could be as awful as the two i've had here. it's been eye-opening.
Hi Deb- we'll probably finish about the same time. I'm am looking towards July 8th...keep up the spirit:) I am sending health and happiness your way. thinking of you xoxo bises, G
chere gail - my skin is so messed up from the radiation, i can't imagine i'll make it all the way through. i'm going to send you an e-mail. xoxoxo
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