Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not Real

Well, that was weird.

Today was my first radiation (XRT) treatment. The MBTA cooperated with my first treatment and got me into work on time. After I changed into my pink johnny my XRT badge alerted the radiation techs to my arrivals. While I waited for my treatment I added some pieces to the 1000 piece puzzle picture of doors they have in the waiting room. After 10 minutes one of the techs came out and led me to another smaller waiting room. This one did not have a puzzle. On principle I sat there and did nothing.The tech told me there was a little more set up to be done.When they were ready for me they bring me into what will be my treatment room, which is different from where the simulation was done.

First up, was my bean bag cast. From the simulation machine they use the data to create a cast where I tuck my head and rest my arms. I climbed onto the table and tucked into my cast. From here the radiation techs ask that you go limp body so they can position you correctly. There are two lasers in the ceiling and using my tattoos and the laser beams them maneuver you into a position. Really this feels like a childhood nightmare, the one where I showed up late for school, shirtless and people are using their laser pointers to point. Today because it is the first day they have to take some Xrays to make sure the minimal amount of lung is involved. Yes, thanks lets leave the lungs alone.

In order to have Xrays taken they need me to move my arm a little because my elbow is sticking up to far. They use my middle tattoo and a flexible ruler to line me up properly. After 15 minutes or so of line up I am ready for xrays. At this point both my hands are asleep. However, in this room they have a different relaxing painting in the tiles. It looks a little like this:

Ok the mountains were a little snowier, and the above is a picture of Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire. However, the photo reminded me of Lake Sunapee and did the trick of putting me in a happy place helping me not move for the 27 minutes of set up. Thankfully, this is the longest set up for all of the treatment. Xrays will happen every 5th treatment and should now only add 5 minutes on.

Next, came the absolute weirdest part: the treatment. The radiation tech says, "ok we are now officially all set up, you will not hear, see or feel anything, but you will be getting your treatment".  Alright. So he leaves the room and I lay still and the machine that looks like the starship enterprise rotates around my body. When it makes one full circle another tech comes out and says: "all set". All set? Am I being punked. I feel like someone took out a magic wand and went "Ta da". Actually, I think the whole thing would have seemed less weird if that had happened.

Knowing that down the road I could have some skin issues from the XRT this is the song I had stuck in my head the entire set up/treatment time:

  

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