Yesterday, I started my chemotherapy and my radiation at the Cleveland Clinic.  The radiation beamed the guided missiles, aimed directly at the tumors with heat starting to burst them from the inside out.  The chemotherapy is the ground force coming to attack the tumors directly.

This is the first treatment that I have had that is not a surgery or antibiotics, and that is focused on specifically killing the tumor cells.  Radiation left me a little tired and with a small burning sensation on the right hand side of my face.  I woke up this morning with a different kind of headache than I have had before.  I start this treatment with some excitement and trepidation.  Excitement because I am finally doing something besides just letting the tumors grow.  Trepidation because I of course don’t know what the future holds.  This was the first of 31 treatments.  I will be done July 11.  The radiation machine is called “the peacock”  and was described by Dr. Macklis as like a dot matrix printer. That’s what it sounds like, because it has a series of small flaps that open and close to let the radiation out.   It does a 270 degree arc over my head, five times, to precisely pinpoint the radiation beams. 

While I am getting the radiation treatment, I have an extremely tight plastic mask over my head to keep me from moving.  The whole process takes only 15 minutes.  The machine makes a satisfying machine gun clicking sound, as it shoots its missiles at the tumor site.  It is clear that it made me more tired yesterday and today. 

We didn’t know we were going to get treatment on Thursday until 5:30 Wednesday night, and even then, we were told that Hope Lodge did not have a room for us, and we would need to find another place to stay.  So, a good friend generously offered us a last minute place to stay. So, we drove up Thursday morning, got the treatment and low and behold Hope Lodge said they did have a room for us after all, but not until after 2:00.  After the treatment we went to Caroline’s house to nap and then back to Hope Lodge to check in.

Hope Lodge is a lot like a hotel, except you are responsible for keeping your room clean, it has several common areas, library, and workout area.  The phones are digital… bummer, can’t use your modem from your room.  They do have a computer area with a data port and several computers for public use. 

This is only the first half day here and it feels doable and it also feels daunting.  I want to figure out how to get physical therapy and occupational therapy here.  I am hoping to connect with my friends here in Cleveland as my energy allows.  And it is clear that I am going to have a lot of extra time on my hands, but I don’t know how much extra energy.

Until next time,
With love and blessings,
Dan (and Abi)