Rick’s Corner     

So, I’ve now finished my first two rounds of electron beam radiation therapy. Electron beam therapy is different from regular radiation treatments in that it stays about a quarter inch underneath the skin rather than pass through the body. It intensifies the treatment and minimizes risk to internal organs.

I guess the only thing I can think of to write is to try and give you a sense of what the treatment is like. I have two very charming young women who take care of me when the radiation machine is not on, and then run like hell and scream when it is on. Okay, not really.

The actual radiation machine kind of reminds me of R2D2 on its side and on major ‘roids. I walk in accompanied by these 2 SYTs, lie down on a bed and allow them to do unnatural things to my eyes. They put drops in my eyes to desensitize them and then put these large, white things in them. They’re slightly larger than a nickel (each) and about a quarter of an inch thick. After those are placed under my eyelids, they’re taped in place to make sure I can’t see a thing. I’m not one to get too claustrophobic, but this just about takes me there.

Since I’m now officially blind, the SYTs guide me to a platform with a plastic screen in front and give me directions on how to position myself - ‘Square your shoulders, twist your hips, left heel turned in . . . more . . . more, right foot forward, toes out, now arch your back and . . . sultry pout . . . more, give me more . . .’

Okay, I made up the part about sultry pouts, but I’m on medication. I’m allowed to make up things. It says so on my script labels.

I do six poses: two ‘hands up, you’re under arrest’; three ‘walk like an Egyptian’ and one standing on my head doing an inverted splits (if you have to ask, you’re not paying attention).

Then it’s time to lead me back to the bed and take those things out of my eyes. It turns out the radiation will not make the hair in my eyebrows fall out - the tape is ripping it out before it has a chance to fall out.

On the hair thing, Tracy talked to a woman in the waiting room whose husband is undergoing the same treatment (week 6) and he still has all of his hair. I imagine those of you who know I shaved my head are getting a laugh out of that one.

Speaking of shaving my head, I’ll try to get some pictures posted in the next day or two.

Thanks to everyone at work for all the great good bye hugs. I’m thinking I’ll wish I could have rationed some of them before this is all over. Oh, and if someone could please give Jennifer an FYI that I have mailed her a check for three hundred dollars. I heard she was going to be a little short at the end of the month.

FYI, I’m still good for individual e-mails - I just won’t go into this type of detail.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and caring. It means so much. I’ll write again when I write again.

Rick
5/24/05