Robin Starts Radiation - 12/13/05

 
Robin (finally) had her first radiation treatment on Tuesday, December 13th at UTMB in Galveston.

We first met her Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Hatch, on November 28th. Robin needed to have her Port (catheter) removed before treatments could start. Her surgeon, Dr. Mason, was able to take care of the surgery on Monday, December 5th, with no complications. Because Dr. Hatch felt Robin needed some recovery time, her first radiation treatment was rescheduled from the 7th to December 12th.

I went with Robin on the 12th because we wanted to discuss the treatment plan with Dr. Hatch. Almost as soon as we arrived, a nurse took Robin back for x-rays. I expected her to be back in 15-30 minutes. Boy, was I wrong. Three and a half hours (and a lot of worrying) later, they brought her out. Apparently, they were actually doing a detailed "simulation" and taking x-rays after (or before?) each stage of the treatment. Robin was required to lay down on a special table with her arms raised above her head. The table was designed to keep her body from moving and was very uncomfortable.

When we met with Dr. Hatch, she told us that this was the most extensive prescription she has ever written. This was an indication to us that Robin's treatment was going to be significantly more complex and extensive than most. Dr. Hatch discussed how serious Robin's cancer was. She implied that, although Robin's cancer was rated as stage 3 in the left breast and stage 2 in the right (out of 4), other doctors might have rated it as stage 4. She explained that the lymph nodes from the left side, which were cancer-free, had been cancerous prior to chemo. She also said that the inflammatory breast cancer (on the left side) affected the skin lymphatic, and that it was similar to the cancer on the right side (indicating it might be far metastasis (spreading) from the right side - NOT GOOD). She said that Robin's normal treatments would take about 30 minutes (when most patients are treated in 10-15 minutes). We discussed the probability of cancer recurrence. The doctor explained that, without radiation, the chance of recurrence in the left breast was about 30% and over 50% in the right breast. She said that radiation would reduce those probabilities by two-thirds.

The ride home was difficult. This was very hard news for Robin, and we spent a lot of time on Monday night discussing and crying about her situation. It was a rough night, but we were clear that her best chance of survival is to take all the radiation treatments that were recommended.

On Tuesday, at 11:00, she received her first radiation treatment. It took over an hour because they were still taking more x-rays. Dr. Hatch was there for the whole treatment (normally, the treatments are executed by technicians). When Robin got home, I looked her over and discovered they had written all over her chest. Her skin was red on the side of her neck (I guess she's a redneck). She also had some scrapes on the back of her skull, apparently from her wig. She asked if she could take the wig off, and was told that she must leave it on because that was the way the simulation was done. Hopefully, she will develop some calluses back there.

Regarding her eyesight, Robin cannot detect any improvement yet. The radiation treatments require her to lay on her back, and that stirs up the blood, so she has absolutely no sight after the treatments. The next visit to the opthamologist will be on December 28th.

Thank you all again for providing us with love, prayers, and support. The cards and notes that some of you have sent to Robin have had a significant positive impact on her morale. It might seem like a small thing, but you just don't realize how much they lift her spirits. Sometimes, she asks me to reread certain ones that touch her in a special way. Thanks, too, to our good friends who have been bringing us dinner. We would never have asked for it, but the meals have been a big help. Once again, we are indebted to our "Houston family" who have taken Robin out for pedicures, lunch, or shopping, or who helped us put up the Christmas tree and decorate for Christmas. And finally, thanks to Robin's friends at the Transitional Learning Center at Galveston, who have done so much to help her continue to work as she goes through this traumatic time in her life. We will never forget you folks.

Thanks again,
Larry & Robin