Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy

On to the treatments...

Prior to the start of radiation therapy, and based on the location of my tumor, as well as taking into consideration all the organs and tissues in the region, the radiologist made a 3D map of the area to be irradiated. I then went for a special sort of scan and alignment marks were placed on my body, literally X'd on with a marker. A tech also drew outlines on my abdomen and hips, showing the area that would receive treatment. Additionally, they made a mold for my legs to rest in. The mold and the marks would make sure I could be perfectly positioned and remain so while radiation treatments were applied.

Then, for the next six weeks, Monday through Friday, I had an appointment at the same time of day to receive my radiation. It took longer to drive to the place than to get the treatments. With careful body positioning and the machine zapping me from top, bottom and each side, the whole process took maybe 10-15 minutes. I felt nothing. I just heard the clicks and buzzes and saw the movement of the machine around me. The techs were very friendly and I didn't have any problems at all going there 30 times for the quick treatments. I have the quantity and value of radiation I received somewhere, but I haven't felt the need to reference it.

During the same six weeks, I received chemotherapy. I only had to go in once a week and fortunately it was in the same building with the radiation lab, plus they tried to time my appointments so I could kill two birds with one stone.

My chemotherapy was Fluorouracil (5FU) and Leucovorin. It was delivered via 24/7 infusion pump, a little battery-powered device about the size of s small portable radio or big calculator. Half the machine was the pump and an LED readout showing progress of medicine delivery. The other half held the pouch of medicine which came out through a tube and went in through my port.

Each week I also had one needle stick in the arm so they could take samples for blood counts to make sure the chemo was not dangerously depleting my red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, etc. If all my blood counts were okay, then my port was deaccessed and reaccessed to swap out one pump for another with a fresh bag of medicine therein.

So, my neoadjuvant (assistive pre-surgical) chemoradiation was six weeks, including 30 rounds of zaps and almost 1000 hours of chemo. Incidentally, because of my port and the handy pump that fit neatly into a fanny pack with the tubing under my shirt or blouse, I was totally mobile and unless I pointed it out, no one knew I was receiving chemo. I couldn't get the port area wet, like in a shower, but baths served well. I had enough tubing to hang the fanny pack up and out of the way then I could relax in the tub nearly up to the port location near my shoulder.