Today was the Day
Mom had her first dose of radiation today at CARTI/UAMS. We were there about 1 1/2 hours. They took her to room one where they used a "simulator" to align and plan the therapy. Then they took her to another room where the actual treatment was done. Neither room had a comfortable table for her to lie on, although she had no trouble falling asleep during the 20 or so minutes she was on each table. They strapped her head down with a mask they made last week out of thermoplastic. It was a flat web they warmed with water then stretched it over her face and fastened it to the table. As it cooled and dried it hardened. It looks uncomfortable to me. It fits very tight around her face. Even her eyelashes stick out through the webbing when it is in place. I got to go back with her today. The table is in a treatment room with a huge locking door. A light comes on when the treatment is in process. They have cameras to monitor her while she is in the treatment as well as speakers. I could see her the whole time and she looked like she just slept. She was dizzy afterward and I wonder if that was more from lying on that table than the radiation.
We will have radiation every day at 9:30. It should only take a few minutes now that it has started. They said we should be in and out in 15-20 minutes.
Her chemo arrived today as well, so she took her first dose tonight. They gave her a antinausea pill as well for the first few days. We will see the oncologist Friday.
Mom had her first dose of radiation today at CARTI/UAMS. We were there about 1 1/2 hours. They took her to room one where they used a "simulator" to align and plan the therapy. Then they took her to another room where the actual treatment was done. Neither room had a comfortable table for her to lie on, although she had no trouble falling asleep during the 20 or so minutes she was on each table. They strapped her head down with a mask they made last week out of thermoplastic. It was a flat web they warmed with water then stretched it over her face and fastened it to the table. As it cooled and dried it hardened. It looks uncomfortable to me. It fits very tight around her face. Even her eyelashes stick out through the webbing when it is in place. I got to go back with her today. The table is in a treatment room with a huge locking door. A light comes on when the treatment is in process. They have cameras to monitor her while she is in the treatment as well as speakers. I could see her the whole time and she looked like she just slept. She was dizzy afterward and I wonder if that was more from lying on that table than the radiation.
We will have radiation every day at 9:30. It should only take a few minutes now that it has started. They said we should be in and out in 15-20 minutes.
Her chemo arrived today as well, so she took her first dose tonight. They gave her a antinausea pill as well for the first few days. We will see the oncologist Friday.
posted by Angie at 11:41 PM
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