Radiation Update

I thought I would post a quick update during the course of Sandy’s radiation treatment. This may serve as a bit of an apology to Sandy, as well. She didn’t like my calling this treatment “no big deal.” For the record, I think my actual words were something closer to, “…no big deal…compared to what she has already been through.” Either way, I probably understated it.

Today was her eighth session, which leaves only three left to go. Those will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. Sandy has been grateful to have a few friends drive her down to Hopkins for the treatment on most days. I think she just enjoys the (perfectly valid) excuse to go out to lunch afterwards. So far, they have hit restaurants in Greektown (Samo’s several times), Canton, and Mt. Washington—and those are only the ones that I am aware of.

Apparently, I underestimated how difficult this treatment would be…or I simply understated it. The radiation itself seems okay, though it is producing the fatigue that it commonly does. The part that I did not consider very well was the impact that all the manipulation of her head and spine would have on her. Those areas remain very sore, despite her vastly improved range of motion. They first extend and then position her head and neck in a particular fashion. They fix this position by strapping her in to a custom molded facemask and a contraption that is intended to hold her body perfectly still. All that manipulation has created some real soreness in her head and neck.

So, when I said that radiation would be “no big deal,” I guess I hadn’t thought it through very well!


Final thought to consider: If a man is completely alone in a forest—and a tree falls—is he still wrong?