27. the mask is off!

Separated at birth!









And with that, it's over. Radiation treatments were officially concluded yesterday morning at 10AM.

It was a relatively peaceful passing. Although I was a little bit disoriented, again. This time, according to Dr. Zablow, the cause wasn't dehydration. It was a side effect of the pain medication, exagerated by my being tired and worn out. Reportedly, since again I don't recall much, I started moving my hands during treatment. Luckily, before I got them anywhere near my face the techs started yelling over the intercom system and I returned them where they belong, holding the handles. The treatment was uninterupted. When we were done I got a photo with the techs and they gave me my mask! I'll have to mount it on the wall.


The Tomo Tech Team and moi.


Back home my feelings were mixed. On the one hand, very relieved to have made it through. On the other, discouraged and unhappy that my throat hurts more than ever. That will probably continue for another few days until the radiation passes through my system. This is where all you supporters have been so fantastic. I've been getting encouragement in all forms: emails, calls, cards, flowers and visits, and all of it is really helping. Thanks, thanks, and thanks! I can't wait to see more of you when I regain some mobility.


Early in this process, before I had even begun treatment, Dr. Zablow had consoled me with reasons that I'd be able to get through it. One of them was that we, as human beings, remember very little of our bad experiences. It seemed strange to me at the time that this was a reason not to worry. But now, in retrospect, I know it's true. I've had some of the worst days and nights of my life, just in the last weeks, and yet I don't really remember them. They all mush together into a general memory of discomfort, one that I know I don't want to repeat any time soon (not really a problem, since being treated for cancer with radiation only works once), but that is thankfully short of gruesome details.

Now all that's left is to get better. Here I go!




Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well...good riddance!