Just Call Me Rudolph Voldemort

Well, Victoria and I have spent the last week traveling to NNMC at differing times of the day to find "the sweet spot" in Washington area traffic flow that will get us from Ashburn to Bethesda and back with the least amount of hassle. There is no such time, although the earlier you go, the more time you get to wait in the clinic areas until things actually open at 7 AM.

Our purposes this past week were to meet again with the surgeons for followup and to "preview" the coming attractions of radiation and chemotherapy. In our chemo preview, we learned that I will indeed have three sessions, but, each "session" will last four days, for a total of twelve chemos. Don't you just love little surprises?

The second best part of the oncology "previews" is the execution of multiple consent and release forms. In these, you acknowledge that there may be certain "side effects" to your treatment, including nausea, hair loss, fatigue, your right ear may fall off, loss of appetite, lack of saliva, minor or major rashes, instantaneous blood poisoning resulting in immediate death, possible confusion as to all the things that are happening to you and occasional diarrhea. Please sign here and initial there, thanks.

The best part of the previews was in radiation oncology, a friendly place over whose door should read the sign "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here." I was to be fitted with my radiation mask, the device which permits the use of IMRT, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. The mask starts off as a dry piece of a thin cardboard-like material, which is then made malleable by the addition of warm water.

First, I was placed on a table, several neck supports tried until one was found that raised my chin up as high as was comfortable, then a support placed beneath my knees. In with a specially fitted mouthpiece which keeps my tongue in proper position and steady, then out with my hearing aids. Finally, my arms were tied with straps which went beneath my feet so that there would be NO movement while radiation was being administered for about 25 minutes TIMES 35 sessions; however, in this case, a session actually does mean only one day.

The warm damp mask was placed over my head and shoulders and, as it dried to hardness, the staff worked down against the contours of my face to make the fit as snug as possible. As they pressed down on the mask, the only release point for the pressure was the small hole cut for my nose tip, hence the title of this blog.

Now, with children out of the room, you may look at the picture I had them take with my camera. The net look of the mask allows the therapist to point the narrow and weak radiation beams at exactly the same place each time so that the combined effect is lots of radiation at the target.

 

I suspect that getting "previews" helps educate the patient and inoculate a bit against the unknown. However, if we had been given previews of Ranger School or Beast Barracks as they actually were, I might not know many of my West Point classmates today.

Next week is mostly rest, with a few appointments. Monday, 4 February, 2008 at 0800 EST is H Hour, D Day. I'll be working my way through the obstacles on Slytherin Beach. Before I reach the heights of Gryffindor, I will have rid myself of this Voldemort mask and the reason I have to wear it...

See you on the high ground, with spot reports to follow along the way. Your prayers are my reinforcements.

Love to you all