Toni gets visitor at radiation today.......... (3 weeks of radiation completed - 4 to go)

So, I (Bryan) finally had the opportunity to join Toni during her radiation treatment.  Evergreen Hospital uses a Varian Linear Accelerator (pictured above)...by the way the people in the picture are paid actors :)... The room looks very similar to the one above.   There is a twinkling starlit ceiling and the room gives you a very comforting feeling.  The linear accelerator is literally encased in a lead and cement room.   Approaching the room, you quickly notice the huge steel door. (Think bank vault).  The machine sits in the center of the room with a large video screen on the wall opposite of the patient's feet with Toni's "prescription" for radiation.  The information on the screen is basically a bunch of X, Y, Z axis measurements that position her and provide a series of photos and details for the radiation technicians on how to administer the radiation.

Once in the room, Toni lies on the table. The radiation techs situate her on her back, with her arms positioned aboved her head.   She is rolled very slightly onto her right side.  Her legs are bent with a triangular "pillo" called Big Blue that helps to keep her back flat and immobile.  The radiation techs then align the machine to her using the two tattoos that she has on her chest and under arm.   They were very kind to show me exactly how it is done.   The table can cantilever out, rotate 180 degrees, and can be positioned vertically.   First, they line up the machine to match the tattoo centered on her chest.   Then (through fairly un-sophisticated methods) they "tweak" her slightly and vary the height of the table to align to the machine to the second tattoo under her arm.   A series of 120 LEDs then provides a precise blanket of light on the area that is about to be radiated.   Once they were satisfied with how they positioned her, they showed me that, in fact, the tattoos are centered on both cross-hair laser light beams on her side and chest.  At that point, we left Toni in the room and the techs shut the main door.   Toni is monitored from the outside of the room on video screens.  

The radiation process only takes 3 to 4 minutes.   It takes them about 5 to 10 minutes to position her.   So 15 minutes from start to finish.   While we waited for the machine to do its thing, they explained to me that her 26 total area treatments are based on X-Rays. X-Rays pass all the way through the body.  For reference, see the picture below of the radiation treatment. In that picture, you can see how the beams are set to pass through Toni's chest.   The last 9 radiation treatment will focus electrons instead of X-Rays at the tumor site.   Electron therapy is designed to penetrate exactly into the area that needs the therapy, but they do not pass through the body. The intensity of the electron's are set to a "depth" of penetration and are "shot" perpendicular to Toni's chest.  The electrons simply dissapate at varying depths.  Amazing.

So there you go.   I was very happy to join Toni today and see her radiation process.  Just when I think I can't feel "closer" to her, I experience something different with her that brings us even closer.   I am lucky to have her.

Restless in Seattle; Radiation weeks #2 of 7, Chemo weeks #15 (and 9 to go)

Toni looks out to the South of Mt. Baker

Toni had a bit of a restless week.   Most of that came from the discomfort of the lymphedema.  Just can't get settled and comfortable during the night. According to her physical therapists, her arm swelling has come down a just a tad (like less than a 1/8th of an inch).  She has been wearing a compression sleeve and that does seem to help a little.   Yet, radiation therapy can make lymphedema worse.  

That pressure from the swelling leaves her skin very sensitive to any touch.  I frequently find myself trying to position myself for a simple hug or even hand holding (the swinging thing can bug her too).  So if you can imagine, someone lying on their side or back with a stack of pillows trying to get the arm elevated, plus not have anything touch it at night.  Quite bothersome.   Toni just found getting comfortable enough to either fall asleep or staying a sleep to be difficult.

Needless to say, the weekend resulted in being quiet and non-eventful.   She was tired.   But we did get some good time to just sit next to each other and talk, while taking in a couple of movies.

As far as the radiation goes... eh, a little pink in color.   She did have an odd taste bud reaction (new chemo maybe?) and an upset stomach.   Not sure if this was an isolated event or not.

She did work 40 hrs this week.   She stated that might not have been a good idea.   So on we go on to the next week.

A big shout out to Kelly Ann Nichols (our niece)... Happy Birthday!!!!

How to radiate Toni.

Here is a picture of how detailed the radiation process is.

So what do you see?

1. The trapezoidal target beams of the machine

2. The breast is radiated in the area that is colored

3. Two numbers... 26 (which are full coverage radiation sessions and 9 which are aimed at the tumor)

The tumor area is the line (surgical incision) that is circled.

Apparently, Toni is a very good radiology patient as she lies so still,

the doctor said the error is only 1mm.  

So if you look at the colored area... it is amazing that the image you are looking at is exactly where the redness is by simply looking at her.

Science... ain't it great.

Toni and the Live Volcano

Yesterday, Toni and I took a 2.5 hr drive North to visit Mount Baker to see Artist Point where these pictures were taken.  Mount Baker is the second most active volcanoe of the Cascade Arc (St. Helens is #1).  It is located just South of the Canadian/US border.  Steam plumes happen occasionally.  It is not as active as St. Helens, and volcanologists don't expect  major activity any time soon.  In 1999, Mount Baker established the record for snowfall anywhere in the world at 1140 inches (93 feet). It is one of the most glaciated volcanoes in the Cascade Arc.  Mt. Rainer is #1. However, Mt. Baker has more snow and ice than the rest of the Cascade volcanoes combined, save Mt. Rainer. 

The First People (as the indiginous people call themselves in the Northwest) named the volcano Koma Kulshan or "white sentinel." The mountain was "re-named" by the explorer George Vancouver as Mt. Baker, in honor of 3rd Lieutantent Joseph Baker who first saw the mountain from the HMS Discovery in 1792.

So for you trivia buffs.... What is Mt. Rainer's indigenous peoples' name?>>>>>>>>> Tacoma!  Like the city of Tacoma, Washington.   Tacoma means "bigger than Koma" (Mt. Baker).   

Today will be a chill out day.   Toni is looking great this morning and appears to have survived our hiking around.   Next week:  5 days of chemo and radiation, and 2 massages for her lymphedema.   By the way... her right side is "redder" than the left side.   Still hoping I will get the chance to "evaluate" the temperature soon.

Radiant(ion) Toni - Week 1 of 7; Chemo Week #14 (10 to go)

One week of radiation done... 6 to go. Toni (even as I write) is completing her last day of radiation for this week.

She started off ok... but wound up having to take one day off to catch up a bit; did not sleep well after switching to the new chemo. The rest of the week passed without a hitch. She also got in a couple of massages to help reduce the lymphedema, as well.

Ok... so I have to tell a story. This might be too much info... uh,,,,well here it goes. So, on Tuesday night (right before bedtime) I was upstairs shooting off a quick note to Brandon on email. Toni comes into the "den" and I turn around to see her and there she is... well... ok topless. While I was trying to think of something to say, she blurts out, "Feel my boobs!" Now, I don't recall the last time, anyone said that to me.....ever. Of course, I was elated. I must of looked stunned, because she grabbed my hands, placed them on her (well you know...boobs) and then proceeds to ask me, "So which one is warmer?" I obviously was not picking up on her line of questioning. Toni then explained that she thought the radiation treatment had made her right side warmer than the left side. Of course, I was still enjoying the challenge of figuring out which one was warmer. Bottom line... I could barely tell. I asked her at dinner tonight if she still thinks one side is warmer, and Toni replied she thinks the right side is still a tad warmer than the left side. Maybe I will get asked to evaluate in her status in a few weeks.

There is the update for the time being. I have heard of requests to do more blogs. We'll see what we can do get a few more in a week.

Toni gets break from Friday Chemo; Starts Radiation Tuesday

Toni received a welcomed break from chemo today. Instead she worked about 7 hrs and then attended a 1 hr massage for her lymphedema. They sent her home with an arm compression wrap. Once they get her lymphedema under control, she will get a sleeve to wear on a more permanent basis. She is also trying a variety of exercises to keep the ol' lymph nodes flowing.

Other news: her hair loss seems to still be more than normal, but it is consistent. Good news is... you can't really tell.

Tuesday starts her new regimen. She will begin taking a daily dose of the chemo Xeloda along with a 4pm daily radiation therapy. This routine will continue for 7 weeks.

So, she has three days to whoop it up! Anyway, odds are she'll spend most of that time getting good sleep and taking it easy. We are trying to keep Mr. Maggie buzzed on cat nip to give her a break from his constant need to lay on her lap. This evening he just laid there twitching on the floor... what a ham!