I can't believe I'm already starting my third week of radiation tomorrow.  Seriously, where did the last 2 weeks go?  It feels like just yesterday I was nervously walking into the clinic not really knowing how to proceed, attempting to check in at the front desk only to be given "the look" followed by, "it must be your first day" in an annoyed tone.  I wanted to tell the lady to bite me, but instead responded with a polite, "sure is!".  Now I'm an ole' pro!  When I walk into the clinic I go straight back through the corridor where all the action happens.  I know that the 2 dressing rooms are against the back wall containing a wicker basket full of neatly stacked hospital gowns.  I am to undress from the waist up, putting on one of these lovely gowns.  Once I'm done changing, I know to put all my belongings in one of the 8 lockers right outside the dressing room doors, and take the key with me.  The keys all hang from a brightly-colored plastic scrunchy piece that fits ever so nicely around one's wrist as not to be lost.

There is a lovely little waiting area consisting of 4 chairs that the patients are to sit when waiting for their turn.  There has only been one occurrence where someone else was sitting there waiting when I arrived, and it was right when I started.  It was a woman in what I would guess her 30's rocking a blonde wig very similar to mine.  I remember thinking to myself how real it looked.  She must have been curious why I was there as anytime I'd look up I'd find her staring at me only to quickly shift her eyes elsewhere as if knowing I just totally busted her.  At that moment I said, "hi" and smiled, trying to make things a little less awkward.  She returned the pleasantry, and that was the end of our conversation.  My name was called a couple minutes later and off I went. 

I believe I have a few more days where my chest and upper abdomen are being radiated, and then they'll focus on just my chest particularly in the spots where the recurrence occurred. Apparently they call this "the boost".  Sounds powerful doesn't it?  It simply means additional radiation to a small part of the initial targeted field/area.  Hey, you can call it whatever you want as long as it works.  Bring on the boost!

I was prescribed a no-named liquid medication for some new acidity I've developed in my throat the last few days.  I'm guessing this is what the radiation doc initially warned me about potentially experiencing when he said I may feel as though my esophagus is irritated.  It seems to come and go, but when it first started I was at my desk at work feeling as though I was going to throw up right then and there from the extreme burning sensation in my throat.  It felt as though a hot pepper got lodge back there burning a hole straight through.  The medication is meant to help coat the throat and also has some sort of numbing agent in it.  I've only used it once and it numbed my tongue and throat, making eating or drinking interesting.   I think I will avoid this medication unless things get out of control.

 I'm still fatigued, which is no surprise.  Sometimes I wake up tired the day after treatment, and other times it hits me a couple hours after treatment.  It just really varies.  Thankfully I'm able to go home straight from my appointment and get in a good 2-3 nap if needed after treatments.  If I'm tired, I take a nap.  It's as easy as that.  It's all about listening to the body, and providing it with what it needs to heal.