Today I had my first radiation treatment. Last week I spent an entire afternoon doing the "simulation," and today's session was quite long because they were checking the radiation plan. They enrolled me in an additional study-blood and urine sampling during the treatment to monitor changes in blood proteins during radiation. I think they are taking advantage of having someone who has not had chemotherapy or previous radiation. All the staff we've met (Debbie came in with me today) have been very friendly and supportive, which is very helpful at this point. I also get the sense that the staffing is greater than in a standard hospital.

Debbie is doing what she can in a situation that leads one to feel helpless. She has been reading about the connection between nutrition and cancer, and contacted the group at NIH that works on this topic. I have been put on a low fat, low processed sugar diet which seems to be agreeing with me. I've lost some weight, and I'm sure my cholesterol is down. I'm sure the benefits as far as my ependymoma are not as great as the radiation, but since this is supposed to be a healthy diet anyway, I am going along with it.

Debbie is also trying to get me to do "imaging therapy" where I am supposed to think evil thoughts about the tumors while being irradiated. This is supposed to convince the body to fight the tumors. As a hardcore physicist, I obviously don't put much stock in this-the gamma rays will do their thing. But while trying to hold perfectly still while the linac was on I did find it useful saying nasty things about the tumors as a sort of mantra.

As far as work, telecomuting makes it possible to have the medical appointments chop up the day and still keep in touch. I will participate in a telecon (from NIH, no less) and a virtual meeting (over the internet) tomorrow, and I send out e-mail at all times of the day and night.