Subject:  COULD BE WORSE |
Author:
Stacy
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Date Posted: 23:29:34 03/13/07 Tue
FIRST LET ME SAY….. KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING!!
I will be starting the actual compression therapy for the Lymphedema in the left arm on Wednesday, March 14th. I will get it three times a week until the end of March.
I had the MRI on Thursday, March 8th for the leg pain and nerve issues from my waist all the way down my entire right side and leg. Fortunately, they were able to complete both the low back and hip scans that day instead of splitting them up between two days.
Dr. Hahn called me first thing Monday morning (the 12th) to tell me I have cancer again in the hip and to call the Radiation Oncologist right away to start radiation. I went over to Dr. Hahn’s office and obtained a copy of the MRI report. I can better understand it if I read it myself.
I called Dr. Fowler, the Radiation Oncologist, and got an appointment for 9:15 this morning. They “simulated” the area so I could start the actual radiation tomorrow. I will receive a total of 14 treatments.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE SIMULATION?
During the session you will meet your treatment team, will see the equipment they use, and can ask questions.
A medical physicist, or dosimetrist, will work with the radiation oncologist to find the best way to aim the radiation at your cancer. You will lie on a special type of x-ray table. The radiation therapist:
· Will mark your body with ink (aka tattoes) to highlight the area to be treated. YES, they use needles.
· May also use a low-energy laser to mark the area. (You will not feel any burning or pain from the laser.)
· Will record measurements using prominent bones, such as your hipbone, as reference points.
· Will take several x-rays to be sure the radiation will be aimed where it will work best.
· Will repeat the aiming process for different angles if you are going to receive radiation from more than one angle.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING RADIATION?
External radiation is usually given during outpatient visits to a hospital or treatment center. A machine directs a beam of radiation at the tumor. Spots (tattoes) put on the skin help the radiation technologist target the exact area to be treated. The radiation oncologist calculates the dose of radiation to use on the tumor. (A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating tumors with radiation.) Each external radiation treatment lasts just a few minutes. The treatment is painless. Small daily doses are given to so that the body can tolerate the treatment better and normal tissues affected by the radiation can recover. The total dose is given over several weeks.
WHERE IS MY CANCER?
If you’re looking at the femur (the thigh leg), there is a “ball” (or head) on a shorter section of bone (the neck) connecting to point (the greater trochanter) that connects to the long femur. In the following picture, the RED areas are where Dr. Fowler marked where the cancer is in my leg.
The outer, larger section of the pelvis that you feel as the hip bone is called the Illium. The inner, lower section of the pelvis closest to the hip joint is called the Ischium. If you’re looking at the side of the pelvis you’ll see where the femur goes into the hip joint (the acetabulum. I have cancer in part of the outer rim of the acetabulum. I also have cancer in the section of the ishium closest to the acetabulum. In the following picture, the RED areas are where Dr. Fowler marked where the cancer is in my pelvis.
The following is a picture of the skeletal system. The red areas are where the cancer is. Outlined in black is the margin that will receive radiation.
Needless to say I have a very busy schedule for the month of March. Just to give you an idea of my schedule, here it is. (I actually had to make a calendar.)
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HI JACK