24 Dec --
This Thursday, the 27th, I see the Radiation Oncologist to "calibrate" my Radiation treatment. There is some sort of mask, which I assume will have aiming points for the radiation. I believe this also involves another CT Scan to assist with imaging the tumor(s) and setting controls on the radiation field.
I'm also trying to schedule the (surgical) installation of the "med port" into my chest to assist with the administration of the chemotherapy, the "hydration" IV's, and the many blood draws that will be needed over the course of treatment. Obviously, this is needed prior to the targeted start of treatment on Jan 7.
I've been doing my "exercises" every day since meeting with the speech pathologist. It's just practice swallowing....swallow really hard, then swallow 5 times while holding my tongue between my teeth, repeat 5 times....do this 3 to five times a day. At the end of each, there's some neck stretches/range of motion stuff. I imagine this will get hard (and painful) after the treatment starts -- but I truly believe the speech pathologist regarding how critical this is to my recovery.
How do I feel, you wonder? Well, physically, nothing at all has changed in how I feel. I used to think this lump was just a swollen gland -- and I thought I was perfectly healthy. Now, I know that I'm not healthy but, honestly, I don't feel bad. I admit that now that I know what is going on, I can actually feel some obstruction when I do the hard swallowing exercises. And, no doubt, I am quite anxious about what is coming. But, I'm sure I'll be OK. The one thing that worries me is losing my saliva and sense of taste...that's going to suck. I'll just have to hope it comes back -- and enjoy it when it does.
Oh yeah, Merry Christmas! (Or Happy Christmas! If you're English)
Thanks for the update. We're all anxious too! It does sound like the radiation/chemo combination is going to do the trick and that you will in fact: "be OK" when the course is complete.
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