Let the Treatment Begin

13 January

It’s not that I feel I need to be in control, but I am the sort of person who is happiest when I know what is going on, and can prepare accordingly. It therefore came as something of a conflict to have a visit yesterday from the orthopedic team who say they still want to commence hip treatment first, prior to radiotherapy. Oncologists disagreed. All day I waited for the promised verdict, but it was only this morning that I finally heard that an agreed plan for initial treatment has been approved by all parties.

Yes, I will commence with radiotherapy here in Geelong for 10 sessions which would finish on 28 Jan. Then I expect to be transferred to Warrnambool, to undergo some chemo (not sure how much yet, possibly only a few weeks). Orthopedic work on the hip would only commence after we know how the cancer responds to treatment. They (orthopedic team at St Vincents) believe there are different possible options available, and will further explore these later.

So there we have it. A plan! Although Adrian had it right last night when he said, “Mum it doesn’t really matter which one they do as long as they are doing something”.

That meant that I had my first radiotherapy session this afternoon. Prior to heading off I was given a tube of sorbolene cream to use on my front and back, to ease the symptoms of ‘sunburn’. And then right on time arrived the trusty ‘pope-mobile’ and off we went, with me cocooned inside the plastic canopy as it happened to be pouring with rain.

It didn’t take long to set me up on my stretcher bed in the huge ‘theatre’, but took a while longer match up all the ‘lines and dots’. Then the staff disappeared out of the room, and while I lay still an amazing array of machinery moved around me emitting a few creaks and groans from time to time. I confess I kept one eye open in case I was missing a spectacular sound and light show (no such luck), and then the session was over.

So that’s one down.

Please pray that this will effectively begin the process of stopping the progression of these cancer cells through my body.