Trying to make the best of it

Remember those times when you are getting ready for a big event and you are super excited, with butterflies in your stomach, and you just can’t sleep the night before? Well anticipating whole brain radiation is sorta like this only not in a good way. 

Tomorrow is my first treatment. 

Typically whole brain radiation treatment is done over the course of five days, but they are going to do it over 10 days for me, as smaller doses over a longer period helps to minimize adverse effects. I think I bugged them so much with all my questions that they were like “alright woman, we’ll do it over 10 days, just leave us alone already.”

Usual side effects during radiation are headaches, nausea (which I detest), fatigue,  brain swelling which will cause me to say or do weird things, and appetite changes. And then there are side effects post radiation as well. Not to mention the steroid side effects, which if all goes peachy, I might not have to be on any according to my radiation oncologist.

Now leading up to this big event, I went in on Friday for my planning CT scan as well as my mask. Yup, I get a mask out of the whole thing. Yay me!

The mask process is quite weird as they start off with this sheet of material with lots of holes in it so you can breathe when they smother it over your face and the water in it makes pliable. So then they contour your face to it while it hardens. Then they remove it and cut out two holes for your eyes and put it back on for proper fitting. The girl said to think of it as getting a facial. Perhaps if I were Jason or Freddy Krueger then it might be a really good facial. I’ve had better. Although the two girls making the mask were super nice and very friendly. Made the process easier. When I am all done, the mask is mine to keep. Was thinking it might be good to have a “trash the mask day” or perhaps it might be good as a Halloween costume. Always thinking ahead.

Here I am with my funky Jason mask . 

Additionally due to the fact that radiation is super toxic and nasty, all of my hair will be falling out as well. Cancer is the gift that just keeps on giving.

So I went wig shopping! 

I tried on a few just to have fun with the whole thing. Not so sure how fun it will be when my hair begins to fall out in clumps, but I will manage.

I love my hair. When it’s clean it’s shiny, soft and nice. But I have to say some of these wigs felt better than my own locks. I was going to go funky with a new colour, but I might be wearing this thing for a while, so I opted for a more natural look. But I get to highlight, cut and style it still. So I won’t be revealing my new look just yet. In the meantime you can check these out so you can have a good laugh at my expense. 

Enjoy!

Like I said, we just have to make the best of it. The more I psych myself up for this, the better it will be for me and hopefully the effectiveness of the treatment. I just need this to work.

I will let everyone know how the first session goes.

Health, love, and wigs.

Xo