Glowing

I had my preliminary targeted radiation on Wednesday. It went well - unless I hear otherwise, we're good to go on the full dosage on the 30th. It makes you a little nervous when the nurse comes in with a lead vest and lead container with your "cocktail". I guess I'll be dangerous to pregnant women and children for a week after getting it. I'll be sleeping alone in the guest bedroom for a week. No one wants to be around me! Luckily, the nurses are pretty fabulous and joked around with me to help get me through it. I won't lie, I'm probably one of the bigger chickens around and this stuff freaks me out.

I'll hang out at the house and get my strength up for Wednesday, then full speed ahead. It will take pretty much through the end of the year before I am back on track with my blood counts, so it should be an interesting Thanksgiving. No turkey carving for me.

Next Phase

I'm on to my next phase of treatment, which means a type of radiation treatment. I will get a test dose tomorrow to see if it is going to all the right places, and if so, they will give me a full dosage next week. This radiation is targeted, and will follow a dose of a monoclonal antibody, which I've had with my chemo treatments. The radiation will follow this antibody directly to my b-cells, which is where I have problems. I will have about 3 months of anticipated problems with blood counts because the radiation will be destroying my b-cells in my bone marrow. The goal is to give me a longer remission period. I was tested today and my counts are all good to go, so onward with this phase.