Radiation DOES Burn!

Well, the burning has begun.  On the weekend it was noticeably worse and continues on the worst side of better every day.  I only have seven sessions left but I'm told it'll get worse a week or two after my radiation is complete.  Ugghh.  And probably every day until then.


A few days ago I made a mistake and, because I'd been feeling fine aside from my radiation burn I indulged in a couple of bowls of Raisin Bran, one of my favourite breakfast meals.  MISTAKE!!!  It was Revenge Of The Pinecones all over again.  Ugghhh.  I've seen Jack Bauer extract information from people with things at hand like the the plugged in cord from a bedside lamp to find out where the nuclear bomb is but I recommend Raisin Bran and a radiated rectal tumour next time.  Far more effective.  Just feed them the Raisin Bran then wait 4 to 6 hours.  They'll sing like canaries.



Maggie surprises her parents with the delights of an empty cardboard box.
After one week of empty box play, she finally added some toys.



And then, this morning, a similar occurrence.  I didn't know why until Erinn pointed out that the raisins I've poured over my oatmeal will do the same thing.  D'uhhhh...I'll have to read the pamphlet the Dietician gave us.  I think on the Dietician visit, I learned from her and she learned from me.  I would've thought a Dietician would know there was caffeine in Diet Colas but, hey, she learned something from me.  I learned the difference between soluble and insoluble fibre.  Now I will embrace it!

Only seven days of radiation and chemo left.  I saw the radiation doctor yesterday and he noted my burn is bad but I'd stay on the same cream I have until it gets worse.  They have some other creams I can use but they'll keep them at bay until I need the stronger stuff.  Good enough.  So long as I know there's something stronger for when the burn increases.  Because, he says it will get worse.  He told me to get a Sitz basin.  I now have one.  It, like the pills tray, magically ages you 40 years when you use it.

Hey, on the weekend, I also flirt with diarrhea.  So far, the pills they gave me have kept that in check.  I'm lucky on that and the queasiness returns but, again, the Gravol-type pills have kept that in check.  Funny, if the Gravol-type pills don't cut it, then I have these syringes that I jam deep into my muscle.  I didn't ask which one but I should get a book called Self Medication for Dummies.