Today was the first day in the micro-wave; that is, the first day of radiation treatment at the Dixon Center at the Nova Scotia Cancer Clinic in Halifax. The day started out at 6:00 am and finished about 10:30 am. Although the time in the "microwave" is short, about 10 minutes, time goes by quickly waiting for things to happen. I had to drink 2 cups of water before the treatment to make sure my bladder is full. I also have to make sure my intestines and colon are empty. Both these procedures are very important to ensure that radiation side effects are minimized. I am told the side effects occur towards the end of the second week and include frequent visits to the bathroom.
Once I was called into the room, the procedure is quite simple. Take off your shoes, lie down on the table, pull down your pants, don't move so we can line up the marks, then stay still. The machine will move around you and radiate your pelvic area from four different sides; the back, each side and the front. It sounded to me the actual radiation is about 30 seconds per shot. So far, the most painful aspect of the procedure is the pain of the full bladder. I guess I shouldn't have had 2 cups of coffee before I went to the hospital!
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