Radiation Treatment #5

Alan is getting used to the routine of the trip down to Radiation Oncology every morning. In fact, he was quite insistent we get the show on the road, pointing to the treatment room and saying "That way!" while he was waiting on his stretcher in the hall. Once inside, he has been holding his finger up for the anesthesiology nurse to put on the pulse/ox monitor. We've been calling it the "sticker", promising to trade it in for a Sponge Bob sticker when he's done, so that might have something to do with his eagerness too.

We are half way through Alan's radiation treatment so Radiation Oncology gave him a position-confirmation x-ray before his treatment today. It was disconcerting to look up the machine and not see the lead leaves that shape the beam for Alan's tumor, but those were set in place after his x-ray. This x-ray was only for positioning though, so after the radiation treatment we made another trip to Radiology for a diagnostic x-ray.

Doc H2 came by to check on Alan. He seemed to be feeling a little more uncomfortable than he was yesterday, but Doc H2 was not worried. A little fluctuation from day to day is fine and even to be expected. The important thing is that the overall trend is improving. While talking a little more about the possibility of a post-radiation treatment of Ifosfamide, we mentioned that we prefer he be inpatient for this drug, since Alan might have difficulty with it. Doc H2 listed a few things that would have to happen before Alan is discharged, including removing the rectal tube, the nephrostomy tubes and switching to oral medication for pain management. While things are quite fluid, we will probably still be inpatient for a while.


Alan offering Bob his finger for the pulse/ox sticker