Hi all — this has got to be quick because I'm working, but I have been getting lots of inquiries on how things went this week, so I thought I'd do a post.
Turns out that on Tuesday what they did was make a "cradle" for me to lie in at every radiation treatment. The room was freezing, I was mostly bare and then they made me recline on a table that had a big plastic bag filled with hard, uncomfortable pieces of foam. They assured me that when the put a special liquid into the bag that the foam would get soft and warm — spalike is the term they used — and mold to my form. And it did! But spalike...what kind of spas do these folks go to?
Next they drew all over my torso with sharpies and then did a CT scan. Do they offer this at the Greenbriar? Seaweed, mud, and CT scans?
Anyway, it wasn't really bad and now I've got nearly a full body mold of the back of my body if anyone can think of a good use for it.
Funny thing is, similar to any good spa concerned with branding, they did give me a nice canvas bag to keep as my own and bring everyday during treatment. Emblazoned on the side: Duke University Medical Center Ratiation Oncology. That's a keeper.
(For the curious, it's to store your clothes etc. every day while you go in for the actual radiation.)
Finally, as I was leaving the hospital, feeling pretty relaxed after my spa treatment, and pretty cocky strutting my bald head around, a had an interesting encounter.
A woman did a double-take when she went past me, hesitated and then approached me. I thought perhaps we'd met somewhere before. No dice. She said, "Excuse me, have you been to our 'Look Good, Feel Good' class? You might want to try it?"
Well, at first, I thought 'how nice...reaching out to an obvious cancer victim with little extras. Just more of the whole spa-theme." Then I thought — "Hell, I'm on the upswing. I thought I was looking pretty good for a lashless, bald 40-something, cancer patient." I guess not, eh?
Okay, I know I'm over thinking it. But my primary thought as she walked away was, "no way lady. I already feel good...and I'm on my way back to looking good. Nobody has to show me how to paint on eyebrows." (damn...wish I could use exclamation marks.)
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3 comments:
Now that you're done paying your bills could you come pay mine?
Shelly/Mischelle/Fish...You're an awesome bald!!!! (see, you CAN use them--they both exclaim and explain--they're exclaiming how good I think you look and they're explaining what a geek your friend is for using them--in multiples no less).
As a former member of the Bald Chicks for Various Medical Reasons club, I am proud of you for not succumbing to the invitation to join a "Looking Good, Feeling Good" class. C'mon--is hair really that important? After all, hair today, gone tomorrow.
Anyway, it reminded me of a story I heard on the radio while driving in Sarasota last week (unfamiliar with the radio stations, I took whatever the last Avis renter had locked in on the dial). It was a call-in segment called "Shove It" during which callers would share stories about people they'd wished they'd said, "shove it" to. One very pregnant woman was telling us all about the stranger who approached her and--without permission--began rubbing--even fondling--her big belly and saying, "Oh, I just LOVE babies. Oh, how exciting. Oh, this is great." and finally, "when is the baby due?" To which the belly-fondled victim replied, "I'm not pregnant." The fondler was aghast and ran away.
So maybe the next time someone invites you to a looking good/feeling good class, you ought to tell her you're a Zen Buddhist in from Boulder to visit hospital patients.
Ok, maybe that would result in some bad karma points...but c'mon--wouldn't it be fun?
Heading to Raleigh area in mid-February and can't wait to share a big bowl of onion dip with you. Just like old times.
Love you, my lifelong friend...
Damn, I was responding to the previous post (obviously). You beat me to a new one. OK, so, as usual, you are THE MS. Sassyfrass which, besides making you my hero, also means you should be teaching the look good/feel good class.
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