May 21st, 2008 - Radiation second week

Well the first week of radiation went well.  For Cameron the side-effects have been a breeze compared with chemotherapy. This week he has lost some appetite and is beginning to experiences some indigestion, but all in all, so far so good.  All of the staff in the radiation therapy unit are lovely, which really makes the whole experience that much easier to deal with – unlike the kids oncology outpatients, which is extremely stressful.

Cameron goes into his radiation treatment each day with a mission, starting by jumping up on the bed, taking a few deep breaths. Then they clamp him down and he is very still and quiet (believe it or not) and out we all go and leave him alone in the room that some jokingly refer to as “the torture chamber”. The alarm goes as we leave the room, the doors close and the only access to Cam is by camera.  We all watch him on a monitor and can hear him if he needs them.  But he is prepared and knows that if he is still and quiet it is over quickly.  The machine spins around and he is “zapped”, (official medical terminology) from the back, then it spins around again and he is “zapped” from the front.  Then it is over. As soon as he is unclamped he jumps up, says thank you and cheerfully tells them he will see them tomorrow as if he is coming back for a visit. 
 
We are not staying at the Lodge on the hospital grounds this time, but staying a few minutes further from the hospital at The Childhood Cancer Support units.  This accommodation is totally charity run, with no funding from the hospital and the people are so incredibly friendly and supportive.  Cam and I are staying in an original old Queenslander house and it is ready for renovating but so full of character and homely.  It feels so much better and Cam has been able to get some of his school assignments done so it is all round a far better environment to be in. 
 
Cameron and I are enjoying catching up with all our friends down here who have come to mean so much to us since February.  Our first night there Elicia came over to “welcome us back to Brizzy”. It’s always such a delight to see her.  We have also been seeing many friends and it’s been wonderful to see everyone having a fairly good run – as cancer treatments go of course!  We got to spend time with “A” while she was having her chemo and are thrilled to say she is doing so well and her parents are so grateful to all of our friends who continue to pray for her.  Of course being in Brisbane without seeing “M” would not be the same, the little boy who Cam feels is like a brother to him now.  He too is doing well and went home to the Gold Coast for the first time since January.
 
Last Friday we returned home and as usual this felt so good.  Cam enjoyed his weekend at home but unfortunately Carlton has a cold and Owen had to be taken to the doctor late last night – yes, our home is still full of excitement…  He was screaming in pain and has an upper respiratory infection and his ear has a big “bubble” inside on the ear-drum, which burst open overnight so the excruciating pain is gone.  Of course Cam has to stay away from his brothers while all of this was going on, which is not at all easy to engineer, but just another little hurdle for us.  So Bill and my mom went off to church with Cameron on Sunday while I stayed home with the boys and we all watched the DVD, “Indescribable” by Louie Giglio, which is an incredibly inspiring view of our place in the universe.

Later on Sunday, the answer to keeping distance between the boys was for Bill to take Cameron fishing, naturally… while Carlton went to a friend who also has the sniffles so Owen had me all to himself for a while, which I think he needed.  Sunday ended with an enjoyable visit from friends and the evening was spent preparing to return to Brisbane on Monday.

We’re now halfway through the week and so far everything is moving along quite nicely. Unfortunately, we still don’t have a firm date for Cameron’s central line to be removed, but hopefully that will happen very soon. 
 
“He will give his people strength.  He will bless them with peace.” Psalm 29:11

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 8:20 am and is filed under Week 14. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

2 Responses to “Radiation second week”

  1. billsr Says:
    May 24th, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    Hi Cam,Sorry for the delay,(LONG TIME SINCE MY LAST MESSAGE). I have been away for a while, but I’m back now and happy to hear/see that you are taking all the treatment so well. I am truly happy that you may even have the central line removed soon. That’s my boy, you show them ‘who’s who in the zoo’!! (what you gonna do Yogi!!) Hope you will be pulling for Mom’s side today (Sharks from Durbs) We in SA all hope we can at least make it into the finals??? Well I’ll say cheers for now, keep up the good fight and I will hope to hear even better and better news soon? Love from all friends and family in SA. Love and a big hug from Grandad Bill In SA

  2. Deidre Wadl Says:
    May 25th, 2008 at 3:27 am

    Hi Cam
    Well how nice to know that all is going well sounds like its much easier on you thanthe chemo. It must be super staying in the lovely old house where you can carrying on peacefully with your school work. Shame about your brothers not being well, give them my love and I hope they get better soon. Give my love to your mom dad and gran as well. Take care and sweet dreams. Love as always
    Dee Martin Manuella and Kenneth xxxx

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