More About Radiation - Wednesday, November 18, 2009

There are a couple of significant things about the radiology appointment that I forgot to mention in my last blog. One of the questions in the paperwork that I found interesting said, "What do you expect radiation to do?" Marge, my nurse friend who had accompanied me, answered, "To cure you." But I could not write that because I do not believe it. So I wrote that I expected it to kill cancer cells. That was closer to my expectation than anything else. You may wonder what the difference is between the two statements. To me, the difference is significant. I believe, both from my reading and training, that cancer is an end manifestation of a many-faceted cause. The reasons may be different for each individual, but the results are the same. So the chemo or radiation can not cure the original problem, because it only addresses the results. I believe that it is my responsibility to continue to seek God and be open to what may have been the cause(s). Then and only then, do I believe that I can be "cured."

The second item of note was the fact that the doctor told me he usually recommends treatment a minimum of two weeks after chemo, so it was good that I was taking my vacation prior to the start of radiation. Apparently, he does not like any interruptions to the protocol, especially a two week one. According to him, that long a time period would necessitate additional treatments, which would not have made me happy. On the other hand, the medical oncologist had said that a two week vacation would not weaken the effectiveness of the chemo cycles. So, in my mind, it was another confirmation that God’s guidance was in the planning of this trip.