Hi,
I started the week thinking I would have one more simulation, but instead:
1/19 began with the real thing, radiation to mouth and neck
Followed by two treatments the next day and one to end the week
This brought me to 4 treatments which my RO said was better to start with than only 2.
Yes, I disliked the mask, especially on Friday, but I think part of my hair got bunched up in back; they adjusted it & it was better.
I am slightly sore from radiation, noticed it especially along my neck scar line which the RO wanted to target.
Then, Friday evening I ended with chemo, Cisplatin, which is just a boost to the radiation. I was scared to death, the only one in the waiting room who did not have anyone with them.
When they said they were giving me a steroid IV first, I wanted to opt out. Taking prednisone makes me crazy. They also gave the anti-nausea drug via IV. (actually not sure which came first-steroid or anti-nausea) Getting the IV of all those was not too bad. My husband flew into the Houston airport just in time to pick me up at 9:15 pm after my treatment.

Saturday--Sunday am: Not so good. I only had to take one dose of anti-nausea combo (Atavan, Benadryl, Haldol)on Friday night and it was just cause I felt slightly nauseated and did not want it to get worse. This also let me sleep as I was riding high with the steroid until midnight. But Saturday, I noticed a definite effect on my radiated regions--more pain, etc. Also, by the end of the day I felt really constipated. I took docusate sulfate. Not much yet. I was not expecting this. I did have a what I think was a case of mild food poisoning last Tuesday, which gave me a few GI problems, but I felt good enough Wed, and thought it was cleared up by Friday morning. Plus I cannot seem to sleep very well, don't know if the steroid stuff would still be circulating? That would explain it. In desperation I found Power Yoga or something like that on TV and went through what I could with it. Some better with anxiety anyway.

What fun--not. Then I get to start again tomorrow. Sorry not to be Ms. Sunshine. I tell myself, it could be worse.

Anne O.