Radiation

On 30 Sept, 2013 I had my Radiation appointment with Dr. Todd in Idaho Falls.  We discussed my options and decided to go forward with the radiation.  I want to do as much as I can on my part to eliminate the possibility of ever having to go through this again.  Dr. Todd is also in Pocatello so I had to option to receive 33 radiation treatments in Pocatello instead of having to drive to Idaho Falls every day for treatments and appointments.  At 33 treatments he would determine whether or not I would need a couple more treatments.

On 1 Oct, 2013 I had a simulation/imaging radiation appointment at the Cancer Center in Pocatello.  I had to lay on a foam form that they formed to my back and head.  When they were finished they sucked all of the air out of the form and it was my form for all of my treatments.  I was marked on my chest in two spots and on my side as well for triangulation of the machine.  They did X-Rays so Dr. Todd could plan where the rays would target when I came in.

I started Radiation on Tuesday, 8 Oct, 2013.  The Cancer Center is right up the hill from our student housing apartments so it was very close.  The first day they tattooed the spots for triangulation so they would not wear off and have to be remarked.  When I arrived I would undress from the waist up and put on a gown.  I would go into the treatment room and lay on my form on the treatment table.  The form put me in the proper position so getting all of the lasers lined up with my tattoos only took a few minutes.  The X-Rays would take a few more minutes while the machine would rotate around the table and hum and buzz.  Eventually I was able to count how many hums then how many buzzes it took for my treatment.  It was the same everyday for 27 treatments.

Lying on the form to keep me in position as the big eye looking thing rotated around the table shooting beams of X-Rays targeting the cancer bed and lymph nodes.

The last 5 treatments were called booster doses.  They used a paint pen to trace across the center of my chest and under my arm.  This is where they targeted concentrated doses of gamma radiation.  I didn't turn green or be endowed with superhuman strength, although extra strength would have been awesome at this time.  They made plates called cakes, I believe, that are made from Cadmium, Tin, and Bismuth.  They were the exact shape of the painted area.  A Styrofoam shape was cut first, then they made a mold of the shape, and then the metals were poured into the mold.  They would put the plate on the radiation machine and line up both areas.  They would do the same thing with the other plate before they administered the radiation.  They would also put a "Bolus" sheet like silicone on to compensate for missing tissue and intensify the gamma rays.  The hums and buzzes were not in the same sequence as the non-booster doses and took a little less time, about 3 minutes vs 5 minutes. 

The  on the risers put on the eye of the machine so it was almost right against my chest and would target the gamma rays at a specific area.

The plates, and the "Bolus".

My Radiation Team.  They were always so kind and respectful.  I never felt uncomfortable or scared thanks to their professionalism.

During radiation treatments I didn’t feel any different.  It was like getting an X-Ray.  When the treatments started my mouth went extremely dry.  They said since the rays weren’t targeting the neck it couldn’t be from the treatments, but it happened.  They had me turn my head slightly to the left to keep the “scatter” from my salivary glands.  This seemed to help a little.  

Every Tuesday I would see Dr. Todd and they would take X-Rays to track the targeted area and make sure everything was going as planned.  

It was just the same thing every day.  I couldn't really do anything else during the week, Monday - Friday.  Since I didn't need any extra treatments I finished radiation on 21 November, 2013.  

My radiation schedule:
Oct 7-10   4:45 pm
Oct 11   11:30 am
Oct 14   9:15 am
Oct15   4:14 pm
Oct 16-23   2:45 pm
Oct 24 - Nov 21   9:45 am
  It was good to have completed the last stage of my treatment.  I won't miss doing any of this ever again.

The Pink Tea

Minnie Mouse

On Saturday, October 19, 2013 I attended the Pink Tea at the Juniper Hills Country Club.  I was invited by Kathy Warth who I met at a yard sale she was having.  When she found out I was fighting breast cancer she asked me if I would like to join her at her table at the Pink Tea.  She was a breast cancer survivor as well.  I happily accepted.

Beach

Besides the fact that it was for breast cancer survivors I had no idea what a Pink Tea was.  I was very impressed.  All of the tables were decorated differently by different people.  There was a very nice lunch, door prizes, drawings, and singing (not creepy commune type singing).  Part of the program was an outward facing circle (I was a participant) to remember those that hadn’t conquered cancer.

My take home gift specific to my table

Lovely Flowers and Collar Necklace Door Prize

Everyone got a mug to remind them of the fund raiser "Drive for the Cure" Golf Tournament.

Pink Halloween

Tea Party

There was also a wonderful young keynote speaker.  She talked about finding her cancer as a teenager, no one believing her because of her age and size, and how we need to raise awareness that ideas of who can get cancer are very narrow.  One thing she said that I really liked was, “When the dragon is going to attack the knight, he doesn’t call and make an appointment.”

Pretty in Pink

Beach

My table.  Lots of fun ladies.  Kathy is standing in the background on the right wearing a pink breast cancer T-shirt

I met new people who can relate and also became acquainted with member of a support group at the Cancer Center I go to for radiation.  The meetings are on Mondays from 5:00 – 6:30pm.  I think I will go and see if it is something that will work for me.  

Me in my favorite hat made by an aunt of one of the BHS football players.  It's like I have pink hair.  Love it!

All in all, it was a very uplifting and productive afternoon.  Thank you so much to Kathy for inviting me to this event and being gracious enough to allow me, a complete stranger, to sit at her table so I could meet others that will support me in my fight.    

Kudos to the Blackfoot High School Football Team!

The Blackfoot High School Football Team honored three ladies that were battling breast cancer.  I was lucky enough to be one or the three.  The team gathered donations from around town and dedicated their game on October 18, 2013 to the fight against breast cancer.  

The entire team signed this card for me.  Maybe one of them will be famous some day.  In my eyes they are all famous!

All of the players sported pink socks and tape in support of the fight.  We were presented with gift bags that contained all of the donations the team had so selflessly gathered together.  It included gift cards, socks, breads, cookies, a pink jewel studded cup, honey, aloe vera, and a handmade hat (now one of my favorites).  The announcer told a little about each of us and then we went out on the field with the team captains for the coin toss.  

The amazing gift bag that was presented to me containing the items the team had worked so hard to gather.

Don't you love this fantastic hat?!

I am putting what I wrote on the thank you card here because I was so impressed and touched by these amazing students.  Every word is genuinely heartfelt and sincere.

I am so proud that the hometown I grew up in has produced such quality young adults that have such caring and compassion for others battles.  The time and energy that was dedicated to helping in my struggle is greatly appreciated.  We are all going through battles. It may be on the football field, in the classroom, or personal struggles, like cancer, but by supporting each other we can emerge triumphant.  Thank you for being allies in my battle.  Onward Broncos!  Fight for victory!

Micro Shell Forming Class

I took a 3-day micro shell forming class in Draper, UT at Melissa Muir’s studio the first weekend of October.  What a fun surprise!  I didn’t know what to expect, but since it was so close to where I live and it didn’t interfere with my radiation treatments, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.  (It also gave me a great chance to visit with my brother and his amazing family.)

Andrea Kennington and Julie Brooks taught the class and what wonderful things we learned.  I learned more about hammers in that short time then I have learned in my whole life. 

Hammers.

 

They showed us how to form on wood forming blocks, end hook stakes, and sinusoidal stakes.  Who knew such amazing shapes could be made without premade forms?  I didn’t.  I was amazed at what I could produce from a simple pattern cut out of a flat piece of metal.  

My work area.

Andrea and Julie were very clear in their instructions.  They were patient and very open to sharing their skills and knowledge.  Andrea shared valuable information about organization and mass production.  She showed us her system of putting file cards with detailed instructions along with the pattern into resealable plastic bags, all stored in a file box, so her apprentices could pull them as needed and work independently.

Andrea demonstrating.

Julie showed us some amazing enameled pieces she had produced.  They had so much detail.  She used a graphite pencil to produce some of the designs.  It had to have been sharpened to the point of a needle.  I wish I had gotten a picture of them.    

The rhythmic hammering was very soothing to me.  Hammering on the blocks and the metal hooks and stakes and using the air behind them felt almost instinctual.

Blocks and stakes.

Andrea had gone through Chemo treatment in her 20’s.  Her ability to empathize with what I was going through and give me encouragement was greatly appreciated.  I thought I understood what people were going through until I have had to go through it myself.  Having someone else that really understands because she has been through it herself is very comforting.  

This was the first piece I made.  I call it "Lily".

These are pieces I made this weekend.  It was so fun!

This piece has a spiculum center and a spiral base.

Leaves with a trumpet center form fit together.

The lone leaf.

  Mink bracelet.  The mink was from Andrea's grandmother's fur coat she inherited.  I will think of that every time I wear this. 

It was a great weekend.  I learned a totally new skill.  I met astounding and inspirational people.  I learned more about myself.  I was fearless.  What more could I ask for?