Boosts

So, for the last five radiation appointments, they have switched from the regular radiation of my breast and lymph nodes, to only radiating the area along the surgical scar.  They call this a "boost".  Since the goal of radiation is to kill off any microscopic cancer cells that may be lurking, I assume this is to be doubly certain that there are none lurking near the surgery site.  Good idea.  The great part about the boost is that it takes, like seriously, thirty seconds.  Okay, sure, it takes a few minutes to get the machine set up and calibrated the right way and all of that, but then once they are ready, it is one thirty second (actually, I think it may be thirty-four seconds as the crow flies) boost and then it is finished.  For the boost, they use something they call "the cone" to direct the radiation right at the scar. It comes down and almost touches me - kinda creepy, but also interesting...someone actually had to cut this thick piece of metal in the shape of the area that they are radiating.  It is an oblong oval shape that goes around the entirety of my scar.  The girls told me the name of the man who does the metal-work, but...I forgot.  Whoops!  Anyway...how interesting that there is actually a job out there to cut metal for radiation machines.  I am fascinated by it, anyway.  Here I am with the lovely cone boost.

And, I couldn't let this pass me by.  The receptionist to radiation posts a calendar on her computer daily.  Here is what today's was.  Love it!

29 DOWN!  ONE MORE TO GO!