Notes From The Radiation Oncologist

Last week I did a consultation with the radiation oncologist. Initially I thought it was the “mapping” appointment where they do all of the configurations before the radiation started. Instead we sat down with the doctor where he described the procedures and gave me an outline of how the treatments would go. I’m glad to say that I really liked him. He gave us a ton of information without having to be prodded and didn’t do any of the nervous giggling like my other oncologist.

The next step is the mapping appointment which lasts two hours. (Guess I’ll have to tell my new boss about the cancer, huh?) After that appointment he gets together with a bunch of other really smart folks (I say they are really smart because what they have to do involves physics and that’s way over my head) and they come up with the correct angles and doses for me. The next appointment after that is about 30 minutes and they check the angles they’ve mapped out while I’m actually there and give me my first treatment. After that he tells me that from the time I park my car until the time I leave should be about 15 minutes. Nothing beats drive through radiation!

I’m due for 6 ½ weeks of treatments so I’m looking at being done with the active part of my treatment by the beginning of July at the latest. Just in time to throw some sort of fab end of treatment party.