CANCER: Rewind

Oops, like all things cancer and doctor related, I shoulda known better.....I just shoulda....

You know how I was told by not one BUT FOUR different medical oncologists that a determination on radiation treatment would be made AFTER my PET scan? HA! Joke's on me....

After meeting my new radiation oncologist- Dr. James F. Spiegel, I learned that radiation was in the game plan from jump. That's right....Apparently when you get diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Unfavorable (bulky mass) you also get the gift of radiation- GUARANTEED! 

Dr. Spiegel broke it down like this: "You most certainly will need radiation. I'm sorry no one told you that from the beginning." Isn't it endearing how doctors apologize but don't really apologize???

Ok, that part didn't exactly take me out at the knees....but what follows did.

Stupid me, I ask- "so how much radiation are we talking about?" Now in my feeble little mind, I'm thinking five days for a week- two weeks MAX. See? Now why do I bother having any thoughts AT ALL? Turns out, the gift behind door number two is: four weeks of radiation, five days a week....Nice. Well done? 

And get this- Dr. Spiegel is trying to tell me that "No, radiation isn't nearly as awful as chemo." Really? I'm listening.....

He goes on to say: "Well, you'll feel tired- but not like you do with chemo." Ok, that sounds good.

Then "You may also develop irritation of your throat- kinda like how you feel when you have strep throat. And, well you may not want to eat or drink anything for about two weeks. But don't worry. Once we stop the radiation that pain will go away."

Ok- that sucks....but if I time this thing right, I'll actually LOSE weight during the dreaded holiday season of gorging....silver lining?

And then he says: "And, there's a small chance that the lining of your heart and or lungs may get irritated. In that case, we've got medicine that will fix it up."

Again? How in the HELL is this BETTER than chemo? Right- no more hair loss???

And finally he offers this one-two punch: "And, sometimes radiation can affect your thyroid function- causing you to develop a hypo-thyroid condition. We can fix that with drugs- but you'll need to be on them for the rest of your life."






WHAT THE HELL? 





So, by my estimation, with radiation, I get to keep my hair, poop on schedule and get fat. 




Again, how in the hell is this better than chemo?

Stay tuned, folks....the fun times begin on 11/26. Last two chemo treatments are lined up for 10/11 and 10/25....And apparently the sexy port in my chest will come out sometime in November, which then gets me off the blood thinners.

Progress???