Half-way point

I am at the half-way point in my radiation treatment --- the 15th session out of the required 30! 

Most people in my radiation wait room get to celebrate and leave around this mark (average treatments are 12 to 15 sessions), so now I am starting to see new faces and I am becoming the "old-timer" in the group.

I have tried to figure out why I am getting double the average sessions considering that I had a "complete response" to the chemotherapy, but the only answer I got was -- this is the protocol based on the studies for triple negative breast cancer. And, yes, there is currently an ongoing study to figure out if patients with complete response actually need less radiation instead of a lot more -- but as it is ongoing, we are still following known protocols.

Touching care

You see the same faces in the radiation waiting room, swapping diagnoses and life stories and cheering for the ones that had their last treatment in a very American comradery and support.

There are a few chairs, a table with the monitor for treatment delays and a coffee table in the corner that has a small wire stand.  

On that wire stand there are origami birds or crocheted pink bells, and today one of the women, who had her last treatment brought handmade bracelets. These are for anyone to take to give you some encouragement, or hope ... you can take any one you like or pick the number of how many treatments you had today. I got my #8 (most of them go up to 15, which is the standard number of treatments).

How very American that it is on such an individual level to reach out to strangers that share a similar burden and help and encourage them with these simple tokens.

I am thinking that even though I am not crafty, I also want to make a few somethings for that wire stand. Probably numbering up to 30 at least, as this will be my final number of treatments.

Daily radiation

It has been now 5 days of daily radiation treatments for me, each taking about 20-25 minutes.
The late morning drive to the hospital in the middle of Longwood Ave in Boston is unhurried, and I feel like a city girl now, in the know (even if only from the window).

And now getting through the complicated building maze is a breeze -- go from P1 to 1Star to P2, then down the Yawkey corridor through the closed doors to the purple card scanner and off to the changing room. 

So far, everything seems relatively easy, and about an hour or two after I get home my body gives in and I sleep for an hour or two... but that is about it. 

It feels that the door to the end of the corridor is halfway opened, and light is coming through, and there is just another month to go in this predictable pattern.

Radiation day 1

For my first official radiation treatment I arrived on time (!) as now I have the maze all mapped out. Believe it or not, I have written down the step-by-step instructions of how to get to and from the den of the "purple machine" and there are at least 11 points.

I waved my purple admission card and within 20 minutes was on the gurney. The procedure itself takes about twenty minutes of timed "breathe in - hold - breathe out" instructions by the nurse and buzzing sounds. All that holding your breath is crucial so that the protons don't burn through my heart valves or seriously damage my lungs. 

I am working on trying to treat this as a guided meditation... Covering my eyes to avoid the red beams helps.

NY trip

After going through the trial run for my radiation setup but before diving into the daunting task of 30 daily sessions with the beast, I was granted a sweet one-week reprieve. So, we decided to visit  New York City over the 4th of July holiday. 

Now, experiencing NYC in July was a whole new level of sensory overload for us. Despite the sweltering heat, a lingering scent in the air, and getting stuck in a subway car, we managed to make the most of our time and enjoy the city. The museums, as always, were soul resting place. MoMa was superb, as always.

Now, here are a few valuable lessons I learned as a cancer patient navigating through the concrete jungle:

Central Park survival tip: Treat the park like your personal oasis of benches. Taking a mandatory 10-minute rest on each one is crucial to avoid complete exhaustion. Trust me, it's a game-changer. 

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the must-have fashion accessory for the barely-there hair club: the wide-brimmed hat. Not only does it shield your delicate scalp from the sun's relentless rays, but it also adds a touch of glamorous mystery to your overall look. 

Here's a little secret: Approximately one-third of the New York population looks just like you. That's right, you're practically a local! So, as long as you wear some flashy, oversized earrings, you'll effortlessly blend into the vibrant tapestry of New York. Consider it your secret identity amidst the bustling crowds.