So it begins....#1 down

I am guessing you are wondering how radiation went today.  It was my first treatment out of 15.  I won't lie....I was nervous as hell even though I had a good idea what to expect.  I got there a few minutes early and checked out the puzzle.  It was hard.  I was just too nervous to even begin working on it.  The lady came to get me.  It was one of the same ladies I saw last year which was very comforting.  Everyone else in the radiation room were new to me. 

The puzzle today 5/6.  I barely touched it.

They started by having me lay on the treatment table and put in the numbing drops.  We waited a few minutes and then they put in the eye guard with the different lube.  It was much easier to tolerate although, I'll admit it wasn't something you would volunteer for.  Then they put the mask on me and set up the machine.  Dr. C came in and said it was set up perfectly.  They finished the set up by putting the "blubber" over me (with it hooked to my eye cup (I shutter to even think about it)).  They instructed me to look down and they all left the room. They told me the zap will actually be somewhere around a minute. So I practiced my breathing and tried to relax.  This time I didn't see the electronic blasts like last time as much.  I suspect because of the eye cup protecting my eyeball.  They unlocked me from the table and took out the eye cup and sent me to the nurse so I could meet with Dr. C.

My eye was quite irritated but not stinging like before.  The eye cup is steel and heavy and no matter how much I tried, my eyeball would not hold still.  I'm going to have to practice that.  Dr. C was pleased with how my eye looked and said he was glad I could tolerate the cup.  He felt we will both be glad I put up with it in the long run.  He also said he thinks we will spare the tear duct damage but we won't be sure until it is done.  He did say my entire eyebrow will fall out in about 1.5 - 2 weeks but they usually come back over time.  We both laughed how much effort goes into radiation when it is on your face.  If we were doing anywhere else on my body, we wouldn't even blink at it.  He did tell me I must be diligent in staying out of the sun.  He also said the skin is going to get really sensitive so learn to be okay with whatever is going on there until I am done and the skin heals.  He said anything will irritate it.  So when my eyebrow comes off, I will need to just leave it alone and not try to put makeup on it.  I also need to keep my lines on.  He said it helps them guide it and to remember our goal is to get the radiation in exactly the right spot.  Again, we will be glad for the short term inconvenience in the long run.  It is critical they have the marks to guide them every day.  So I'll keep wearing them.

I felt fine to drive home.  I stopped and picked up lunch and then came home to pick up where I left off with work.  My eye was pretty sensitive to  movement so I wore an eye patch for about 3 hours.  When I took it off to see how my eye felt, it was much better so I am going without for now.  One thing I didn't count on is the lump is sticking way up after radiation.  I am guessing the cancer cells were not happy with what happened today.  The little bastard must know it's days are numbered...and I am counting every single day down to zero.  Fry bastard fry.

Look how huge!!!  This was a few hours after radiation.

I'm taking it easy tonight.  Philip is here and going to make dinner (I could do it but why??) and go to the grocery store for me (he will be at his Dad's for 5 days after today).  I hope to get to bed at a decent hour tonight.  Tomorrow my appointment is at 3:30.