Oh, no! I was so involved with my SELF this week, that I forgot my coveted place here in the rotation for The Writers in Residence. So, this is a quickie catch-up.
HOAG Cancer Center is where I’m now spending my days – like, EVERY day – after the breast cancer surgery I had back in March. Now I’m going through 15 days of preventative Radiation, so (hopefully) that nasty cancer stuff doesn’t come back. (At least the chances are lessened.)
Meet ELEKTA.
She’s my partner for about 15 minutes every day. She circles me like a rising and setting sun four times, shooting the “anti” death ray at my left chest area. I hear a high-pitched “zinging” noise and feel a slight warmth, but nothing else. I thought my skin would get “cooked,” but nothing yet, just a feeling of tightness. I thought I would experience fatigue, but also not yet. (Of course, so many people are praying for me!!)
A woman who was scheduled after me yesterday, says she is on Day 12, and the fatigue has hit her. My Radiologist talked to me today, and when I told him I was surprised at the lack of skin burning, he said. “The sunburn will come in week three. Just keep applying that radiation cream two to three times each day.”
Believe me, I do.
That funny crunched white glob under ELEKTA’s eye on the table is a molded pillow they made when I was “mapped” for radiation two weeks ago. It holds my shoulders, head, and left arm stretched above and over my head in the exact same position. So there’s no messing around each time I come in. The molded pillow is situated. I lay back and fit my arm and shoulders in it. They expose my left breast, line up the machine over the markers on my chest, and tell me, “Don’t move.” (Yes, I have weird PLUS and MINUS signs semi-permanently pasted on me for ELEKTA to read.)
About now, you are thinking, “Wait, I thought this was a writing blog. What’s with all this medical stuff.” Hey, have you ever heard of Robin Cook’s books? (Coma, Toxin, Fatal Cure), Michael Palmer (Miracle Cure), Tess Gerritsen (The Surgeon), etc. Yes, so I know I’m not an author like them, but I AM writing about my Cancer Journey, and reviewing books that pertain to it. I’m writing my “Journey” on Substack, and on Friday, I’ll post the next weekly update, titled “RADIATION & ME.” (You guys get a mini-sneak peek here.)
If you want to read last week’s post, here is the link, VULNERABLE & EXPOSED.
If that doesn’t work for you, go on Substack and search for “Jackie’s Musings & Meanderings.” I have about thirty I’ve been writing, but the last seven are on my cancer journey. You can subscribe (but no pressure), and it’s FREE. Don’t get tricked into paying. Not needed.
So, you see, I AM writing. Each day, I quiz the technicians on something I want to know about so I can include it in next week’s Substack post. (And maybe the following week too, as I finish up.)
Do you have any questions or comments? If you click on the title of this post—SLIPPED MY MIND—you can find the spot below to do that.
The Writers in Residence 
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