One down, 32 to go

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What a long wait it is. After the interview at Holland PTC 10 days have passed and I still have not heard when I can start with the radiation. Although I am not really looking forward to it, I want nothing more than to start, the sooner it will be over. When my phone rings and I see it is Holland PTC I jump up, YES finally. Unfortunately, the happiness was short, she called to say that the calculation takes a lot of time and I will not start next week. We agree to have contact next friday and if it is possible to start sooner, she will give me a call.

I am very disappointed. Waiting even longer means radiation during the summer holidays of W. and T. and above all still not being able to build up what will be broken down by the radiation. Off days are allowed to, tomorrow I’ll make a fresh start.

On Tuesday June 23, exactly 12 weeks after the operation, the nurse from Holland PTC calls again this time with the announcement that she has a start date. The radiation will start on Thursday 25 June. Good that there is finally a date but also a bit scary it really comes close.

Thursday June 25

This afternoon at 16:00 I have the first radiation. I try not to think about it too much because then I just get nervous. As a distraction, I'm going to make a countdown calendar. I've been thinking about it for a while but I'm not sure what to make. Finally I decide to make small cards with a number on one side and a piece of a coloring page on the other. I finished it just before we go to Delft. The numbers 1 to 33 and the fine quote from Thucydides (see my previous post) are on the fridge now
I asked M. to come along the first time and I am glad about that because when we drive to Delft I’m starting to get nervous. Because it is the first time they pick me up to go to the radiation room. When we walk to the dressing room I am told that next time I can go that way myself and then wait until I am called in. In the dressing room I can take off my outerwear and then with my beautiful cloth, which I got last time, to the radiation machine. I get to sit on the table and get the mask on. The device is set up correctly and they take some pictures to see if everything is in order. Then the radiation starts. Except that the device makes some noise, I do not feel anything of the radiation. The only thing I start to feel is that the mask is very tight on my forehead, my forehead feels like it’s burning. When they take off the mask I have a print on my forehead. Tomorrow they will put a foil in between, hopefully that will help. They do indicate that it was a long session today so hopefully that will make a difference tomorrow. After exactly half an hour I am back with M. and B. and we can go home.

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