Come With Me to Radiation

Today I had my final over all round of radiation.  By overall, I mean the radiation is from almost my sternum to my under arm.  There have been 28 rounds of that ... 10 of them with the Mr. Bolus.  In a minute you will see Mr. Bolus and today was my last day with him.  <smile>  Tomorrow I begin the five rounds of "boost" radiation which is the electron radiation that is pretty much topical and will be applied in the square drawn on my chest around most of the scar on my left side.  They will radiate <smile> where my tumor was in my left breast on the top since the mean ole cancer had broken out of the milk duct.  Only five more radiation treatments ... should finish up next Tuesday  and then grand baby #3 will be born on Wednesday.  God has been so good to me with the timing of my treatments.

So come with me now on my trip to radiation this morning.  These are pictures of me this time, not someone I found on the internet.

Above:  This is how my radiation appointments begin.
I am positioned on the table. and the radiation
tech leaves and closes the big one foot thick door.
The big machine above my head takes
x-rays and administers my radiation.
  That big arm swings to both sides.

Above:  This is the radiation area under my left arm.
It is pretty burned and a little uncomfortable
... truly like a bad sunburn.  Do you see the red
cross beams, that's how they line me up and ensure
I'm getting the radiation where it should be.

Above:  The arm has been positioned to the right of me
to get in place.  Once the radiation is finished
on that side, it swings over me and is positioned
to administer the radiation under my left arm.
I only take radiation on my left side which is
where my mean ole tumor was that broke out of the
milk duct.  

Above:  Meet Mr. Bolus aka the bolus.  This is a
piece of squishy stuff that has something like
silicon in it.  Mr. Bolus is used every other day
so that I am not getting straight radiation all the
time.  It acts as a shield so the radiation is
primarily more topical than the days without it.

Above:  Kind of dark and not the best but this
is my new friend, Vanessa.  She has administered
most of my radiation and is such a pleasant person
as they all are at the Center.

I hope you enjoyed the trip to radiation with me.  I feel blessed tonight as I write this blog that I am where I am right now as opposed to where I was 8 months ago.  September 15, 2011 will be forever burned in my soul.  It brings tears to my eyes now as I type this and remember that day so well.  But ... my awesome Father has brought me through so many troubled waters and I am getting to the other side safe and sound ... just as He promised.  Thank you Father.

I appreciate each and every one of you who stop by to read about my continuing journey.  I am blessed and very humbled that you would find my story interesting enough to continue to walk with me.

Blessed beyond measure ... all Because He Lives.  If you are not familiar with the song
Because He Lives, please read the lyrics below ....

BECAUSE HE LIVES
Writer Bill Gaither

God Sent His Son, They Called Him Jesus;
He Came To Love, Heal And Forgive.
He Lived And Died To Buy My Pardon;
An Empty Grave Is There To Prove My Savior Lives.

Chorus:
Because He Lives
I Can Face Tomorrow
Because He Lives
All Fear Is Gone
Because I Know He Holds The Future 
And Life Is Worth The Living 
Just Because He Lives

How Sweet To Hold A Newborn Baby,
And Feel The Pride And Joy He Gives;
But Greater Still The Calm Assurance:
This Child Can Face Uncertain Day Because He Lives.

Chorus

And Then One Day I'll Cross The River;
I'll Fight Life's Final War With Pain.
And Then, As Death Gives Way To Vict'ry,
I'll See The Lights Of Glory And I'll Know He Reigns.

Blessed and praying blessings for you.  

gkmorrison12@gmail.com