My first few days of radiation were the worst - unbearable in fact. So much so that by Monday, after only having received 3 treatments, I requested to see the Radiation Oncologist and asked him what the chance of recurrence was if I chose not to continue with therapy. His answer was a startling 35% and he strongly encouraged me to continue with treatment.
Positioning of your body is critical during radiation. During your initial visit several "tattoos" similar to a mole are placed on your body to later assist the technicians with proper alignment. Your arm and head are placed in a mold which is then formed to fit snugly. Due to the location of my tumor I had to turn my head as far as possible to the right and remain in that position throughout each treatment.
Unbeknownst to me, or to the radiation team, the mold was pressing into a nerve at the base of my skull resulting in a stiff neck, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting. I threw up more during my first few days of radiation and that weekend then I did the entire time I was receiving chemotherapy. Radiation was supposed to be the easy part!
The cure was simple. A folded wash cloth was placed over the ridge in the mold where it was pressing against my nerve to alleviate the pressure. After 1 - 2 evenings of muscle relaxers and padding my mold, thankfully, all the symptoms resolved.
From then on Michelle, one of the radiation technicians, officially dubbed me "Princess", as in the old fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, "The Princess and the Pea". For the remaining 6 weeks I earned the right to that name requiring my "princess pillow" for each treatment.
Not the end, just the beginning. This Princess shall live happily ever after! ;0)
(written by me for inclusion in my Breast Cancer Warrior scrapbook)
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