Not My Idea of a First Tattoo
I began today in the radiation therapy department where I had a 9:15 appointment for the 3-D planning session. The goal of this appointment is to determine how best to position me and angle the radiation beams for maximum benefit and minimum impact to my heart and lungs.
They had me change into a gown and they took me back to the 3-D planning room, which is equipped with an open bore CT scanner. They had me open my gown, taking my left arm out of the sleeve, lie back on a narrow table, and put my arm over my head in an arm support. Then four women moved around me, taking measurements and making marks.
The lead technician then decided that they needed a contour cast for the planning. That's a strip of plaster that shows the contours of my body when I am lying in position. I felt a little silly having someone apply strips of plaster from my sternum, over my breast, to my side, but at least it didn't take long for the plaster to set up. When it was done, they placed the contour cast on graph paper to get the dimensions of the curves.
They did a CT scan, drawing me backward in the same position into an open, donut shape unit. Then they took more measurements, calling out numbers to each other while projecting a grid onto my chest. They took a Polaroid of me in lying position, wearing my lovely metallic indigo bob. Between you and me, that's not my best angle.
During all of this, they gave me my radiation tattoos. I have always wanted a tattoo, but I was kind of imagining "Purrscilla" emblazoned above my heart, with vines and flowers or something. Radiation tattoos are kind of like registration marks, indicating the boundaries of the radiation field, and they are just the size of a ball point pen mark. One in the center of my chest and one on my left side. I know a lot of places give patients four tattoos; I was glad to just have two.
They gave me a schedule for radiation. Unfortunately, it doesn't start until the end of the month and I think that's a bit late. There is an optimal time for radiation to start after chemotherapy. They promised me that the radiation oncologist would review the schedule later and change it if necessary.
I left Berkeley and drove to San Francisco, to UCSF, for my chemotherapy follow-up with the nurse practitioner. I like this nurse practitioner. She's funny and compassionate which is a good combo for me. Here is a more memorable excerpt of today's conversation:
NP: [Looking at my chart] How is the mouthwash doing for the mucositis?
Me: Oh, I didn't get that filled. I figured that I had already suffered through the worst part without it, so I decided to just tolerate it.
NP: Hmmm. What about the back pain you've been having? Is the Ultram working for that?
Me: Uh, well, I didn't try it yet. I have a friend who gets really anxious when she takes Ultram and that made me nervous about taking it. I mean, I know it's only 7 to 10% of the population who have that response (not that I looked it up) but I really don't want to get weirded out.
NP: Are you still having pain?
Me: Oh, yeah. It makes it hard to sit in a movie theater or work on the computer.
NP: I see. How's the acid reflux?
Me: Well, I, um, stopped taking the Aciphex since I was done with chemo and figured that would go away. But then I was up all last night with evil acid reflux from beyond the seventh ring of hell, so I guess it didn't go away yet.
NP: [Just looks at me for a moment]
Me: [Batting eyelashes] You know, I just don't know WHY modern medicine can't help me!
You see why she needs that sense of humor?
Obviously, she recommended that I actually take the medication that was prescribed to me. I promised to be good. She also said that the radiation schedule was too far out and we would need to make sure it was moved up. Well, we'll see what can be done!
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