Three treatments down. Staff is lovely but I haven't had the opportunity to ask these questions:

Why is a bolus used on my scar?

Why do I have a CT scan every week?

(The explanations given so far have been brief and I've been too busy preparing for and getting over that damn tongue plug to ask them to expand on it:)

Christine's milkshake, one a day?

Is it on the scar or mask? I understand, the rubber bolus is to increase the radiation dosage to the area. During CT simulation, a wire is placed along the scar, and bolus is placed along there, but I never had a bolus with IMRT or Proton Therapy, wire marking, yes. From what I understand, cancer tends to return at the surgical line.

I don't know why you have a CT every week, if its part of the trial, monitoring the tumor response or checking the mask alignment and is a CT simulation.

The tongue plug is to keep your tongue still, out of the way, during radiation,

I would ask. Now everyone probably everyone wants to know for sure. Take care, and good luck.

Its ok to drink more than one a day of the giant choc peanut butter milkshakes. Sometimes I would have 3 a day and never gained an ounce. Right now your body is burning up calories so fast it wont hurt to indulge a little.

Thanks Paul. I asked today and got exactly the same answer. They had explained it to me initially but I didn't grasp it. I think they're probably checking alignment with the CT but will ask on Monday. (Starting to get the hang of this RT game.) They're very scrupulous about alignment which is reassuring:)

And thank you Christine. I've got most of the ingredients lined up. Forgot to buy peanut butter! I've been adding cream, sour cream and cream cheese to my soft meals ... delicious ... but even at this early stage I'm not putting weight on. I'm a buxom lass so have a reasonable buffer but will not count on that. I love what Cheryl or someone else said: hydration, nutrition, pain control. I'm keen on getting through this with as little trouble as is humanly possible and I'm so grateful for every piece of advice.


Cheers
Maureen

Maureen, you've shown the right (survivor's) attitude since your first post, you'll get through this fine.

Good on ya, Lass!

Bart

Yes the bolus is to increase the radiation dose and the weekly CT scan is to ensure everything is still aligning correctly. I had exactly the same questions.

Hi Maureen - in the beginning of treatment there were several questions I asked of the doctor during my weekly doctor day visit. The first time I asked, he answered, but not as much detail as I wanted. So, the following week I asked again and specifically for more detail in his answer. He gave me what I wanted just fine. More important, every question I asked after that day I got the more detailed answer.

I later learned that many patients don't really want to know much about their cancer or treatment, they just don't care. So, when questions are first asked many doctors try to give brief answers. If a patient is really interested in all this stuff the doc will go into more detail, but often you have to ask for that extra detail.

Asking for extra information is just being a good advocate for your own treatment. Doctors appreciate a patient who is involved in her own treatment, ie a good advocate; so they won't have a problem with giving more detailed answers.

take care

Tony

I remember my first meeting with my oncology team leader. He described my tumor and then starting talking about the treatment plan. When I heard the word "chemo", I mentally checked out. I don't remember a word he said after that. I think they can tell by the look in your eye that you've had enough for one sitting. You are about to spend every weekday with a member of the team so there will be other opportunities to share info.

That (not telling me everything up front) used to tick me off until I spoke with an oncology nurse from another office. She shared that very early in her career she went through the plan in detail with a patient who shortly after committed suicide. Clearly this person had other very serious emotional issues but it changed her thinking regarding discussions of treatment. My team played it perfect: I was always told the truth, it was given to me when I needed to know it and they answered any questions I asked. Looking back I can see what a balancing act that is!