Another Day, A Little More Information
This morning we only had one quick appointment called a simulation with radiation. It was basically to get fitted for a special mask that will be used to make sure they are targeting the same spots each time with the radiation. It was a very interesting and quick process. I was fitted for a bite guard and then a weird mesh was pulled over my face and attached to the bite guard. There were a couple of CT scans so they can do lots of math to calculate, triangulate, and meticulously plan to treatments in the coming days. I've been told to expect lots of cognitive testing this week to do some pre and post side effect testing of the treatment.
Our treatments begin March 16 and will run 5 days per week for 6 weeks. We will be home at the end of April. Then we will return every 4 weeks for the watching part. We also caught another really good break this morning.
Yesterday when we signed up for the proton vs. photon study, we did not know which condition we would be in. We made jokes with the doctor that there is no placebo condition so in either condition we are still irradiating the cancer cells. Photon therapy is the standard radiation that has been used for years. It is effective at going after the cancer for many patients. Proton therapy has been shown to be just as effective, however, it is also shown to be safer for various reasons and has fewer side effects than the standard photon therapy. This study is not looking at the effectiveness of photon vs. proton, only the side effects of each. When we got home last night and read about the differences, I got a little anxious about wanting Proton but we do not have the option of "selecting" it for various reasons. Jason told me to relax and accept that we would probably be put into the standard Photon therapy and we would hope to be pleasantly surprised. On the way to our appointment I got the call that we were selected for the Proton therapy condition. We were so happy, Jason was pretty teary. Another favor from the universe. Onward!
Comments (13)
Wow -that is AWESOME! So excited for you guys! Thinking of you and your sweet family ALL the time. You are near and dear to my heart:)
If you are headed in right directions, doors open. And you've got this one day at a time thing down! <3
Awesome!! I'm praying for you to the one who grants those "favors from the universe" :-).
Jason will feel right at home with all those cognitive tests and he will probably be redesigning the forms they use to model those he had us use in Ethics at TT. He should volunteer for this job and let you watch tv...good series on Starz (Outlander has a really hot dude you should get to know) and Netflix House of Cards is back for their 4th season. I know you probably watch Robin Wright's wardrobe, but Ellen Burstyn is on it now, and she wears some really classy suits that I need to find out where she shops...getting old, Karin!!You can also get these all on your tablet so you will never have a spare moment. The way you are talking shows signs of a bestselling book. Indeed you will, no you must give this lots of thought as I can already tell you everyone of your friends will buy it. From the looks of the posts, that will be a bunch. Thanks for telling us all about this, and I will see if I can swing a trip to Houston soon.
We all jump for joy a little on our own every time you get some good news. Hope that those keep coming your way!
That is GREAT! I read about that one too, sounds like lower risk of damage to good cells. Even though you seem to have plenty of brain cells to spare!
Missing you guys, and praying for continued good outcomes. : )
The universe LOVES y'all as much as your friends and family do!! Thinking of all of you every day and hoping...always hoping!!
That is totally awesome! You are an amazing woman with a powerful and positive attitude which certainly will help you through this!
A real positive update -- luck of the Irish with that Proton radiation group!! Yay!! Thanks for the update - it helps esp. when far away. Love you.
I've been reading all your posts. So happy about your news today! Thays so awesome about the radiation. I am praying for you and your support system through this process. I admire your positive outlook and the strength that shows behind all the updates! You have a lot of love and prayers coming to you from Kentucky!
Onward and upward! And all of that, BADASS.
Divine intervention maybe😃😇