rads

I started my "rads" today (that's what us in-the-know Hodgkin's folks on the Hodgkin's e-mail list call it). Because of the protocol of the study I'm a part of, I couldn't get radiation until my white blood cell count was at least 3, so they had to do a blood test today (last week it was too low).

It took TWO AND A HALF HOURS to get my blood test results. Apparently the somethingorother machine was down and someone didn't tell someone, so they gave me a free lunch coupon to pass the time. But seeing as I'll be missing work for the next 19 mornings, even though I got home at 3:00 I went in for a few hours to catch up.

As I said before, there shouldn't be any side effects for a few weeks yet, so the treatment was painless. And because of the placement of my cancer, I don't even have to change into a hospital gown; I just take my shirt off.

Other things going on in my life:

• Cedar Point this Wednesday after work
• Elyria fireworks this Friday at Cascade Park; always a good show in a great setting
• going up to the cottage this weekend
• no work Monday, no radiation Monday!
• Cedar Point next Wednesday after work with a group of friends
• Relay For Life, Friday, July 8 (evening to Saturday morning) with the group from my church; this year it's in honor of me and in memory of a woman from our church who lost a battle with cancer last year
• Ice Cream Social with the Lorain County Historical Society, at which I'll be playing the keyboard (twice, so I guess you'll just have to stay the whole time). The ice cream social is a big annual fundraiser for the Society and takes place outside in the shade of the hickory trees. The $5 ticket includes your choice of pie/cake and ice cream and a tour of the house museum (which is now air conditioned). Hot dogs, popcorn, root beer floats, chips, sloppy joes, and freshly squeezed lemonade are also for sale. Uncle Sam top hats and early 20th Century speech patterns optional, dagnabbit.
• Monday, July 25: last day of radiation!