Treatment, Day 2

My appointment has been changed to 9:00 a.m. for the next few days, a welcome start. Now I can stop by the clinic on my way to the office instead of interrupting the middle of the morning.

As we go into the waiting room, faces I did not know before yesterday already seem like old friends. Some are much further along in their treatments. As we were sitting there, I tried to explain this radiation machine to Teresa, but not possible. It moves, the table moves, a laser pointer detects the targets on my body and positions the beam into the right places. Oh yes, hang your dignity on the hook on the wall!

The treatment begins and my mind wanders. This huge device slowly and methodically moves about me. This reminds me of watching the astronauts working in space. They float about and them some large object, a satellite or something slowly moves across the screen, just like this large grey machine moves about me. Except I’m just laying there. It’s not totally dark in the treatment room, but the lights are very subdued. A nap, maybe! No, it’s too entertaining listening to my brain create stories to fill the time. Wait, here comes the satellite again!

There’s a photograph projected on the ceiling, I suppose to help me relax. It’s a pretty photo of the sky surrounded by trees from the perspective one has looking straight into the sky. Photo not needed. I’m relaxed. Music is playing in the background. It’s disco today. Definitely not relaxing, but Donna Summer has a great voice. Maybe tomorrow I’ll request something soothing like Beethoven’s Symphony #7, the middle movement. Or maybe Wotan’s Farewell from Wagner’s Die Valkure. They probably don’t have those selections.

Oh, here comes Teresa! She gets to see the magic machine that beams my cancer to death! The folks at the Cancer Clinic are not only highly competent and compassionate, but they make sure everyone in the family is satisfied with their questions.