Day -7 (minus seven)

Rosina is getting a radiation treatment called TMI and I couldn’t remember what it stood for, so I googled “radiation TMI” and what came up was a whole lot about Three Mile Island. I don’t think she’s getting Three Mile Island radiation. It actually stands for Total Marrow Irradiation. Unlike Total Body Radiation, which is a common treatment in preparation for a Bone Marrow Transplant, this treatment pinpoints the areas that it needs to hit, and takes it easy on other parts of your body, like your organs. It uses the 3D map of your body that’s created by a CT scan to program where all the thousands of radiation “beamlets” are focused. You know how when you get an x-ray at the dentist they put a lead blanket on your chest and then the assistant goes behind some kind of Superman-proof wall for safety and they take a snap shot for 1/125th of a second? Here you’re getting that x-ray for an hour and a half - twice a day. However effective, like most cancer treatment, it stinks.

Rosina has been through two sessions a day for the last three days with one more day to go. She’s also getting chemo. It’s making her feel nauseous and achy. She hasn’t been eating, and she’s disappointed as the last two times with the chemo were much easier. This treatment is much stronger.

There is a plethora of drugs for allergies, sleep, pain, nausea etc., and frankly, when you’re doing this, sleeping through it isn’t such a bad idea. She’s hanging tough and will blow through this thing!

The nurses have been nice, you see the same ones much more than at Cedars. There are a lot of people at City of Hope who have been through some kind of cancer treatment there and they are loyal.

Visiting is a bit more sanitary – you need to wears a mask and gloves when you go into rooms on her floor. If you are interested in visiting, the best thing is to give her a call on her cell phone. But, just so you know, she could be sleeping while you’re there – no promises. The visit still counts. There is a link to visiting COH up on the right as well as maps etc.

Thanks as always for all the nice words and notes!

xo
ph