The Girl in the Plastic Mask

Well folks I have officially begun radiation and so far so good. I still don't like the mask, who would, but I was fortunate enough to have my time slot moved back to 7am and it is working fabulously. For any of you that know me and my sleeping habitats you know that 7am is incredibly early for me and as it turns out, in this situation, that is a good thing. Why? Because I am still half asleep when I go in for my treatments. My mind isn't nearly as alert as it is in the afternoon which means less of a freak out for me. I am able to just close my eyes and drift off. Actually falling asleep is impossible because of all the noises and lasers, but I am able to doze enough that my treatments don't seem so bad. They are over before I know it. :) I go in, get changed into my robe thing, head into the radiation room where the therapists put my mask on, bind my feet, line me up with the machine using my tattoos ( that's right I have four of them. They are really tiny but still I am so hardcore now), take a picture or two with their fancy machines, and give me the radiation treatment which lasts about 5 minutes or so, and then I am gone.
Its a strange sensation getting radiation done. It kind of reminds of using Icy Hot. It is itchy, and burning, and cold all at the same time. I haven't suffered from any of the side effects of radiation thus far but the therapists just reminded me today that I probably won't be bothered by anything until about two weeks in. I am crossing my fingers that whatever does come is easy to handle. From what I understand the worse things that can happen are my throat swelling up and my skin feeling as though it was sunburned. That's not too bad. Funny enough, however there is one thing that happens every time I am in there that nobody cared to warn me about. The mask, because it is so tight on me, leaves these little imprints on my forehead. I walked out of the cancer center after my first treatment having no idea that I looked like a character from Star Trek. It wasn't until I got in my car and caught a glimpse of my forehead in my review mirror that I noticed. Man, I must of looked like a complete dork standing there talking to everyone. Oh well, there really isn't anything I can do about the imprints. I got some pictures of the imprints and posted them below. Seriously, I look like an alien. I have no eyebrows and these tiny little bumps in strange groupings covering my face, but do take noticed that my hair is coming in rather well. Woo hoo. I am excited to have it back. Just a few more weeks and I should be able to style it somehow. Hopefully by then my eyebrows will be back too.
I have an appointment with my oncologist on July 9th to see how I am doing post chemo. It should be interesting to see what he has to say. I will also try and keep you posted on my radiation treatments, although I doubt there will be anything too exciting happening there.
Anyways, that is all I have for now. Ttyl.

Kenna :)