I have started! And so begins the end of the long arduous process of finding a cure for my cancer. The die is cast. I am irrevocably committed to this Loma Linda proton treatment path.
The first day no nervousness, no fear, some concern but committed. As I lay in my pod looking at the very neutral color cone of the gantry, a little beat up from years of use, I think of the other locations I could have gone to. University of Florida looked about the same but the changing rooms were better and include a bathroom. MD Anderson was by far the best show with very bright, clean colors and sharp looking all digital tools. Did I make the right choice? I think and hope so. I am counting on experience making Loma Linda the best solution.
The first day is supposed to be different. It is the day the doctor’s treatment plan is combined with the body to be treated and the gantry to destroy the cancer. A number of x-rays are used to verify the location of the anatomy relative to the plan. Dr. Bush came in to oversee the initial adjustment and modifies them a little bit. The tools were verified using the barcodes marks on them. Interestingly before they were able to start the treatment the technicians had to rescan the barcodes on the tools. It comforting to know the computer verifies the correct tools are in place to treat the patient.
The zapping starts a wheel spins to spread out the proton beams. A Geiger counter beeps. I feel absolutely nothing except the balloon up my butt. What a non-event except……..God I have to pee!!!
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