I have completed my first week of radiation treatments. So far, so good. I haven’t experienced any side effects yet — no nausea, lower GI issues, etc. Yes, I have been napping an hour or so in the afternoon, but I attribute that to the fact that I’m getting up at 6 a.m. to get to the GHS Cancer Center by 7:45 every morning for my treatments.

The radiation procedure isn’t that bad. I go into a freezing cold room and lie down (naked) on a hard table (under the white sheet above). They put my legs in this blue pillow that puffs up to keep them in the proper position, then they line up my torso to match the black lines they’ve drawn on my abdomen with the green laser lights shining down from the ceiling.

Then the fun begins. Once everyone clears out of the room, they lift the table (at this point I am reminded of Gene Wilder in “Young Frankenstein”) until I’m about five feet up in the air, and scoot the table into the center of the four arms of this big machine that looks like something from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It’s actually a state-of-the-art piece of equipment called “TrueBeam” that allows radiation experts to pin-point the exact area to be treated.

Once I’m in the proper horizontal and vertical position, the TrueBeam’s four arms extend  out and are adjusted into the specific position that the team of radiation geniuses have decided will provide the best angles for the beams.

Next, the machine begins to rotate around the table, zapping me at various times with the radiation. It’s not as freaky as getting an MRI, but it’s pretty weird. There’s no heat, no visible beams, just an irregular series of short, buzzing noises to indicate the radiation is being dispensed. The whole procedure takes around 15 minutes. Then they lower the table, remove the leg pillow and I get dressed and leave.

After five days, I’ve gotten to the point of recognizing the “regulars” in the waiting room; you develop a certain camaraderie when you are sitting around in a hospital gown, hoping that you aren’t flashing your ass at anyone. Unlike my chemo experience, the patients I’ve interacted with this week are all pretty upbeat and the “veterans” are happy to share tips with us rookies.

So now I have the weekend off, then it’s back to the GHS Cancer Center for treatments #6 – #9 next week (we all get the day off for 4th of July). Mom and I are thinking of heading up to the mountains tomorrow for a picnic, depending on the afternoon thunderstorm forecast. It will be nice to get out of the heat for a bit, enjoy some fresh air and eat deviled eggs while enjoying the scenery of the Blue Ridge.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and a Happy 4th! Thanks for all the notes and texts checking in on me over the past couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them as I embark on the third stage of my Iron Woman Cancer Triathlon.

Hugs and love to all.