About radiation

So this past Friday we found out more about my radiation treatments as well as my continuing cancer treatment for the rest of my tumors.

I begin radiation on this Friday. I'll go for a total of five days, every other day (and skipping weekends). So I'll be finished on August 4th. Again, I don't know the side effects, but the doctor has said he'll not start me on any extra medication that I don't need. If there is swelling, I'll likely start on steroids again. Fatigue can be fought with sleeping and napping. Anti-emetics can be used for nausea if the need arises. I'm hoping for no side effects, but we all know how that goes. I got fitted for my mask last Friday and I want to say I handled it pretty well. It keeps your head in place so you can't move it which can be kind of disconcerting. The main problem I have with it is you can feel your blood pulse around your jaw and I instinctively want to swallow.

As far as my other treatment, we're going to go two weeks out from the radiation and do another brain MRI. If the brain looks good, I'll begin a new treatment. Right now it's designated MK-3475, but is also known as pembrolizumab. It's still in a "trial" phase, but it's so close to being approved by the FDA they opened up what is called a expanded access program. An EAP isn't as limited as a clinical trial and they work with patients like me to basically open up the drug to more people. As long as I meet some basic criteria (like the brain is stable), they'll likely start it soon after my birthday in late August. What a gift!

But first, the radiation! I'll try to let you know how it goes, but I may be out of it.