Treatment Started

We'll I've started my radiation treatment. After going in a couple of weeks ago for my first radiation appointment for x-rays and planning, I've since started my regular radiation treatments. I have a total of 16 sessions and as of today I've completed 6.

Each session generally goes like this:

I leave the house at about 6:50 or 7:00 in the morning and drive to Davis Square where I hop on the T for a quick trip down to MGH. I arrive at the Radiation Oncology Center at about 7:30. Upon arrival, I scan a small card that lets them know I've arrived and I change into a hospital gown. Since my appointments are early they are usually on time and after a few minutes they usually come and take me to the treatment room where I lie down and they carefully align my body (using 5 pin-prick tattoos) so the radiation goes the the same spot each time. The therapists leave the room and after a few seconds the radiation is administered for about 10 seconds with a corresponding horn/alert noise. The therapists then return, rotate the head of the machine and administer another dose of radiation from underneath. I'm usually done, changed and on my way home by 8:00. After the T-ride back, I'm usuallly at work by 9:00 or 9:30. The only variations on this treatment are every 5 days they take x-rays to make sure nothing has moved around and every Tuesday I meet with the doctor leading my treatment.