So. Today, at the age
of 59, I got my very first tattoo.
See if you can guess what it is:
This?
No? How about this?
Hmmm…what about this charmer?
Ok, I’ll tell you….TA DA:
It’s that little black dot in the middle. There are three others as well, but I can’t
show you those because they include naughty bits. They are the markers for my radiation treatment,
which will probably begin next week. I
have too many co-morbitities to be a candidate for chemo, so we are hoping
radiation, along with hormone therapy afterwards, will eradicate any errant
cancer cells. I will have a treatment
every day, five days a week, for over six weeks.
In an icy cold MRI room, on a hard plastic table, I was set up for the procedures
I will receive. My arm was held over my head in a brace and I have to keep my head turned as far to the right as possible to avoid irradiating my face. The area that was measured and marked off is relatively large, to include the lymph nodes in my neck and armpit. Holding still for over a half an hour, my muscles started to spasm and
then I was tattooed so the radiation can be aimed at the exact same spot
each time. Lying there, I had a few tearful moments as I was overwhelmed by the
enormity of what was happening. I still
cannot believe I have cancer. Oh, and we’re
still pursuing the whole spot-on-the-liver thing, I have to go for another MRI
next week. I am just so weary of being a
sick person.
I have to say, though, everyone at the Radiation Oncology
Center was kind, pleasant and helpful.
My doctor is relaxed and friendly, he reminded me of B.D. Wong, except
he is Korean, not Chinese. He was incredibly
reassuring and empathetic.
Who knows, maybe when all this is over I will treat myself to a new tattoo. One of these would be my cup of tea.
My new theme song:
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