06/23/09 - Radiation Treatments

Well, I've been through a week and a day of Radiation Treatments. They are administered on every business day (5 times per week). Although my doctor hasn't decided the total dose yet, he said there will likely be 20-22 treatments. I'm not receiving any chemotherapy during radiation, but I may receive some afterward.

First, my brain tumor is treated. A "field" is a dose of radiation - an amount and position to administer it to. My brain receives 5 fields. I lay face-down on a table and the radiation machine can move in a circle around me. The table I'm on can also move.

My Spinal Tumor is also treated in the same session as my Brain Tumor. It receives 4 fields. In total, both the treatments take about 15 minutes. I can't feel them, although when certain parts of my brain are "shot," I can see a blue light even if my eyes are closed. I can also smell a strange "burning" scent, even though it is not there. Weird...

I hope to add a more detailed Radiation post in the near future...