Breath in, hold and release

Today began the third phase of my treatment...RADIATION! Every weekday for the next six to seven weeks, at precisely 10:30am, the left side of my chest will be zapped with several strong beams of radiation. The process went like this: After getting undressed, I laid down on a hard metal slab, with my position held in place by a custom mold of my upper body. The radiology technicians drew some marks on my chest and then left the room, leaving me alone with this enormous machine that rotates around me like a space shuttle orbiting the earth. I had to lay there holding both my arms above my head with the elbows out to the side for the next 15 to 20 minutes, not moving an inch. With each beam of radiation the technician recited the mantra, "breathe in... hold... and release." While the treatment itself wasn't painful, I was uncomfortable holding my body in that position due to the tightness in my chest. After a few minutes, my arms and hands were completely numb. Also, having this massive machine hovering over my chest and sending down radioactive beams was just a little freaky. There were a couple of moments where I felt myself getting a little panicked, especially towards the end when I started to smell something burning! Fortunately, I was able to restrain myself from jumping up and bolting out of the room like a bare-chested lunatic. As for that smell, the tech told me that other patients who have had chemo have noticed it also, probably because the chemo can make you more sensitive to certain smells. The techs, on the other hand, said they don't even notice it.

Me getting prepped for radiation.