All The X-Rays: In Photos

-

12 November 2019


In October, I started the five-week radiation regime recommended by my oncology radiologist Dr Debra Furniss. This is the final major component of my active cancer treatment schedule, following my mastectomy in April, five months of chemotherapy and 12-months of Herceptin IV treatment (July 2019 – July 2020).


I was nervous before my first treatment (watch video recorded before my first radiation treatment) but by the end of the first week, I was comfortable with the process and can safely say that radiation is definitely a walk in the park compared to other cancer treatments. 

I was privileged to be in a position to choose GenesisCare at Buderim as my radiation treatment centre where Dr Furniss and her team would target me with 25 doses of all the x-rays. 

During my treatment I was lucky to have a visit from my mum, Sue, who was very interested in seeing the radiation in action. As she lives 3-hours away, it was valuable for both of us to have her attend some of my chemotherapy treatment and radiation doses.

In addition to mama bear coming and having a look at all the x-rays, my superstar physiotherapist and breast cancer specialist Jen McKenzie also came along to see the radiation treatment in person. This enabled Jen to see the treatment room and learn about the technology involved in delivering x-rays to affected areas, thus helping her when talking to future patients about what to expect during radiation treatment.

My mum and Jen both snapped some photos during their visits which are shared here with permission from Dr Debra Furniss, GenesisCare, Buderim.







These images below show the monitors in the control room where the radiologists coordinate the treatment. You can see in this pic below that they can see me through the camera. They can also talk to me through an audio system where I can also talk to them, if I needed to. (If you farted loudly on the radiation table, the radiologists would definitely hear you!)

Popular posts from this blog

Super powers and surgery while awake

-
Image
Wednesday, 15 May 2019 Another day, another medical procedure. Today's adventure involved surgery to have a portacath device installed. It's a small device branded as "PowerPort" which means I now officially have super powers. It's been inserted near my collar bone and is connected via catheter to one of my large central veins. This is where the chemotherapy and Herceptin treatment will be administered.  The portacath surgery was another awfully anxious experience. I was awake for the surgery but mildly sedated so I could still hear and feel the movements but felt no pain. I felt quite anxious and my heart rate spiked at 140 when the Doctor inserted the catheter. He said sometimes this "tickles" part of the heart valves which triggers an increased heart rate. My heightened level of anxiety didn't help at the time either. In recovery, my heart rate came down and I ended up eventually being discharged. The nursing staff were very understanding of...
Read more

Five months as The Uniboober

-
Image
23 September 2019 Five months ago today, my right breast was removed and I commenced the next chapter of my life as a uniboober. Physically these changes can be seen by the eye but I've changed in so many other ways emotionally, spiritually and mentally.  Thinking back to the mastectomy surgery, I mistakenly believed at the time that the breast removal was the largest component of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Little did I know it was merely one piece of the puzzle, one of the many new parts of my life that meant I'd never be the same again.  I'm getting more comfortable with accepting I'm not the same person and I'm never going to "get back to normal". I'm also not a big fan of the term "new normal", a reference many use for the next part of my life after active treatment has finished. When I do eventually return to work, when people I know ask how I'm doing, when a year or more has passed and I start to look "nor...
Read more

The Uniboober's three-month anniversary

-
Image
WARNING: This blog post and the video below contain photos of mastectomy surgery scars and nudity. Twelve weeks ago today, my right breast was surgically removed by my Rock Star of Titties surgeon, Dr Lisa Creighton . My highly anxious self, medicinally supported by prescription valium, underwent a right breast mastectomy where my saggy, cancer-riddled right breast was removed as well as five axilla lymph node clusters, two of which contained cancerous cells. On Tuesday 24 April 2019, my surgeon removed  1.2 kilograms of my right breast To commemorate the journey of the past three months, I have compiled a short picture video featuring my breast scan, biopsy bruises, post-mastectomy surgery site, post-portacath surgery and three-month post-surgery body.  Before watching, have you taken note of note the warning about post-surgery photos and nudity appearing in this video? Don't watch it if you're squeamish, dislike seeing other people's breasts or if you're...
Read more