6 weeks of radiation: DONE!!!

Hi all;

Brief recap: diagnosed in December of 2006 with glomus typannicum; Revised
to Glomus Jugulare in January, 2007; Surgery in December 2007 for removal;
Discovered it was malignant and metastatic during surgery - Removed several
lymph nodes, sections of mastoid bone, sealed right ear canal;

Started 6 weeks of helical/sterotactic radiation via Tomotherapy machine on
March 1st, 2008, finished today, May 7th, 2008.

So far, I've been *extremely* fortunate in that the side effects have been
limited to:

General fatigue;
Taste buds dead;
Burned skin behind the right ear and along the scar line
Limited hair loss in the back of the skull and right jaw line, along the
path of radiation;
Total weight loss: 0.75 KG

All in all, not bad, though they tell me not to plan anything drastic for
the next two weeks as the radiation effects will continue to build up until
then, after which healing will truly start.

I cannot state strongly enough that the people in the Ottawa Oncology
Centre, in the Ottawa General Hospital are some of the nicest, most genuine
human beings in the world. While I dealt with quite a number of radiation
therapists, two of them, Jenn and Kirsten, are two very special human
beings

NO MORE RADIATION! WOOHOO!

Follow-up in two months, MRI to establish a base-line in 6 months then
yearly follow ups for the rest of my life (which is reassuring, I thought
they might limit the follow-up for a few years), but I can live with that.

I've got my mask downstairs: Waiting for a paycheque to come in so I can
buy a red maple sapling, which I am going to plant in my mask and then in
the back yard - It's going to be my "New beginning" tree

While I'm not leaving alt.support.cancer, I do want to take the opportunity
to express my thanks to everyone in here - You're all a great bunch of
people

--
Marc Bissonnette
Looking for a new ISP? http://www.canadianisp.com
Largest ISP comparison site across Canada.

Marc Bissonnette wrote:

> [snip] NO MORE RADIATION! WOOHOO!
>
> Follow-up in two months, MRI to establish a base-line in 6 months then
> yearly follow ups for the rest of my life (which is reassuring, I thought
> they might limit the follow-up for a few years), but I can live with that.
>
> I've got my mask downstairs: Waiting for a paycheque to come in so I can
> buy a red maple sapling, which I am going to plant in my mask and then in
> the back yard - It's going to be my "New beginning" tree

A thriver, late to shed its beautiful leaves, down here and gloriously
beautiful against a sunny Fall sky.
Best of luck in the healing phase and followup, Marc.
J

On May 7, 8:23 pm, Marc Bissonnette <dragnet\_@_/internalysis.com>
wrote:
> Hi all;
>
> Brief recap: diagnosed in December of 2006 with glomus typannicum; Revised
> to Glomus Jugulare in January, 2007; Surgery in December 2007 for removal;
> Discovered it was malignant and metastatic during surgery - Removed several
> lymph nodes, sections of mastoid bone, sealed right ear canal;
>
> Started 6 weeks of helical/sterotactic radiation via Tomotherapy machine on
> March 1st, 2008, finished today, May 7th, 2008.
>
> So far, I've been *extremely* fortunate in that the side effects have been
> limited to:
>
> General fatigue;
> Taste buds dead;
> Burned skin behind the right ear and along the scar line
> Limited hair loss in the back of the skull and right jaw line, along the
> path of radiation;
> Total weight loss: 0.75 KG
>
> All in all, not bad, though they tell me not to plan anything drastic for
> the next two weeks as the radiation effects will continue to build up until
> then, after which healing will truly start.
>
> I cannot state strongly enough that the people in the Ottawa Oncology
> Centre, in the Ottawa General Hospital are some of the nicest, most genuine
> human beings in the world. While I dealt with quite a number of radiation
> therapists, two of them, Jenn and Kirsten, are two very special human
> beings
>
> NO MORE RADIATION! WOOHOO!
>
> Follow-up in two months, MRI to establish a base-line in 6 months then
> yearly follow ups for the rest of my life (which is reassuring, I thought
> they might limit the follow-up for a few years), but I can live with that.
>
> I've got my mask downstairs: Waiting for a paycheque to come in so I can
> buy a red maple sapling, which I am going to plant in my mask and then in
> the back yard - It's going to be my "New beginning" tree
>
> While I'm not leaving alt.support.cancer, I do want to take the opportunity
> to express my thanks to everyone in here - You're all a great bunch of
> people
>
> --
> Marc Bissonnette
> Looking for a new ISP?http://www.canadianisp.com
> Largest ISP comparison site across Canada.

Congratulations! I remember the relief and excitement of finishing my
last chemo, and imagine it's about the same sensation with rad.
Regular testing is no big deal, after regular treatment. Now it's
time to start a long, healthy period, to recover (well, once the peak
is past) and put it all past you. Good luck, and keep posting when
you can.

---
CSM

Marc Bissonnette wrote:
> Hi all;
>
> Brief recap: diagnosed in December of 2006 with glomus typannicum; Revised
> to Glomus Jugulare in January, 2007; Surgery in December 2007 for removal;
> Discovered it was malignant and metastatic during surgery - Removed several
> lymph nodes, sections of mastoid bone, sealed right ear canal;
>
> Started 6 weeks of helical/sterotactic radiation via Tomotherapy machine on
> March 1st, 2008, finished today, May 7th, 2008.
>
> So far, I've been *extremely* fortunate in that the side effects have been
> limited to:
>
> General fatigue;
> Taste buds dead;
> Burned skin behind the right ear and along the scar line
> Limited hair loss in the back of the skull and right jaw line, along the
> path of radiation;
> Total weight loss: 0.75 KG
>
> All in all, not bad, though they tell me not to plan anything drastic for
> the next two weeks as the radiation effects will continue to build up until
> then, after which healing will truly start.
>
> I cannot state strongly enough that the people in the Ottawa Oncology
> Centre, in the Ottawa General Hospital are some of the nicest, most genuine
> human beings in the world. While I dealt with quite a number of radiation
> therapists, two of them, Jenn and Kirsten, are two very special human
> beings
>
> NO MORE RADIATION! WOOHOO!
>
> Follow-up in two months, MRI to establish a base-line in 6 months then
> yearly follow ups for the rest of my life (which is reassuring, I thought
> they might limit the follow-up for a few years), but I can live with that.
>
> I've got my mask downstairs: Waiting for a paycheque to come in so I can
> buy a red maple sapling, which I am going to plant in my mask and then in
> the back yard - It's going to be my "New beginning" tree
>
> While I'm not leaving alt.support.cancer, I do want to take the opportunity
> to express my thanks to everyone in here - You're all a great bunch of
> people
>
Congratulations! All you have to do is make it through the next 2 or so
weeks and it shall be all uphill from there.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life

On May 8, 7:23*am, Marc Bissonnette <dragnet\_@_/internalysis.com>
wrote:
> Hi all;
>
> Brief recap: diagnosed in December of 2006 with glomus typannicum; Revised
> Marc Bissonnette


Hey Marc,
Congragulations man! Thats a classic achievement! Glad to know all's
looking great!

Let me confess: your write-ups have been extremely encouraging for us
novice! Thanks.

I agree with your mask-sapling idea- I had also thought of something
like this only. I am looking forward to counting my age as 44+zero,
then 44+one and so on and so forth......i reckon its a brand new
start!

Take care......may you get the best of the best ahead!
S'ly
Sam