Getting prepped for all the x-rays
4 October 2019
I'm sharing this radiation prepping experience in case it helps you, or someone you know, who is going to have radiation for breast cancer.
The sexy striped gown made me feel like a warrior queen and to top it off, underneath I was sporting my #FuckCancer undies...hand sewn by my awesome friend Robyn.
The measurement procedure itself was not too daunting and didn't last long but as I mentioned, I'm not a fan of medical equipment or medical machines that make noises.
I laid down in the CT scanner tunnel with arms extended above my head. My oncology radiologist Dr Furniss marked up my skin to outline the area to be targeted with the radiation x-rays. The radiation nurses then took CT scans of my chest area which took around 3 minutes of lying still while I was shuttled slowly in and out of the tunnel part of the machine. I was hugely relieved to breathe through the anxiety of those three minutes and avoid a panic attack in front of my new oncology radiation team.
After the CT scan, the nurses then created three small tattoo dots on my skin. This helps ensure I'm positioned the same way for each of the 25 radiation doses. The tattoo dots were created using a small needle followed by a swab of ink - there's one tattoo in the middle of my chest and one on either side of my chest (outer side of breast area). They're smaller than some of my other freckles and moles so I'm not worried about them long-term (I believe some people have the tattoos removed after treatment has finished).
After the tattoos were finished, I got dressed and discussed dates/times for my radiation schedule which will commence on Monday 28 October. Until then, I'll be spending the next few weeks slathering myself with QV Intensive to prep the skin on my chest (recommended by the radiation oncology team).
My experiences with new medical procedures are usually supported by pharmaceutical intervention (e.g. Lorazepam). Here's a hot tip for anyone going through cancer treatment - don't be afraid to talk to your oncologist or GP about pharmaceutical support options to help you cope with anxiety and fear if it gets overwhelming. It is crucial that you're able to sleep properly, be active and look after yourself during cancer treatment. If you're overly anxious and can't focus on your well being, you may wish to consider options such as counselling (see a psychologist) or medication to help you cope.
Having surgery, undergoing numerous medical procedures and being injected with chemotherapy drugs is anxiety inducing stuff. If you're someone who deals with anxiety on a regular basis, this cancer bullshit may just be the thing that tips you over the edge and triggers severe anxiety episodes. All I can say is talk to your medical support team and discuss your options (following my diagnosis, my GP doubled my regular anxiety medication and it helped me immensely).
In addition to medication, I have also benefited from sessions with a psychologist who specialises in supporting people diagnosed with cancer. My husband has also benefited from these sessions and we both recommend this option for anyone whose family has been impacted by cancer.
