One Down, 27 to Go!!

Good news to report -- radiation photo op has been officially approved for tomorrow's session! Therefore, I do not, as of yet, have a photo of me on the hard, plastic slab waiting for the buzz of those magic radiation rays to kill cancer cells.

After a fairly uneventful drive from Ashcroft to Kelowna -- a trip that should have taken 2-1/2 hours, but took 3+ because we were gabbing and missed the turnoff to Kelowna at Merritt and ended up half way to Hope -- we arrived at the Cancer Agency.  It is difficult for me to explain why there was a spring in my step and a cheshire-cat grin on my face as we walked the two blocks in 35 degree C weather.  My morning excitement continued -- just ask my travel partner, since she had to put up with outbursts of song, silly jokes, and lame sarcasm the entire way.

Upon checking in, we were escorted by a volunteer to "The Park" unit of the Cancer Agency. Shortly after, Chris (a radiation technician) took us to a small room for a talk.  In simple English, he explained exactly how my appointment would look today, allowed me to ask some questions, and showed me to the change room.  Suited up in my classy hospital gown, I was shown into the radiation treatment room and given a warm blanket to cuddle under.  Hard to believe I would need one since the outside temperature was scorching, but it was freezing in the room.  Chris and Richard pushed and prodded me into position, carefully lining up my two tattoos by some sort of laser.  Each step was carefully explained so I always knew what they were doing, and why.

Several times, the techs left the room, took an x-ray, and then returned to the room to make minor positional adjustments and put more black felt marks on me.  After this had happened three times, I was finally told, "We're going to start your radiation now."

Hold on to your hat -- here we go!!

As predicted, the treatment itself was very quick (about 3 minutes) and painless.  Apparently, two tattoos were not sufficient to do my "lining up", so I received two more after my radiation was done.  These two -- done by Chris  -- were painless!! Thirty minutes after I had left Cheryl in the waiting room, I was dressed and ready to hit the streets of Kelowna. We shopped for food supplies and headed off to the orchard/RV park to try to cool down the 5th wheel trailer that will be my home Monday thru Friday for the next 6 weeks.

I'm exhausted tonight -- not a radiation side effect -- merely a drive-filled, adrenaline-filled, excitement-filled, Costco-filled, heat-filled day.

Picture to follow tomorrow ...