Dr. Tonnesen (the radiation oncologist) gave a great analogy this morning. Cancer cells are like dandelion seeds in the wind. Some seeds land on fertile soil and begin to grow immediately, some land in less accessible areas and take time and effort to grow and some land on asphalt to die. If you have one dandelion growing in your yard, you can target it to eliminate it. Once you have many dandelions, you are most likely to spray the whole yard to get rid of them. That is what the whole brain radiation is supposed to do to the cancer cells. (Personally, I generally choose to dig out my yard full of dandelions because I don’t feel comfortable spraying but the analogy doesn’t hold for this choice. Can you imagine identifying and treating each individual cancer cell? That would be brutal. For some reason, this helps me to see the wisdom in doing whole brain radiation.)
The plan is that Mom will get ten treatments (consecutive days except for weekends) where they radiate each side of her head for thirty seconds in the area above her eyes and ears. So, a total of 60 seconds every day. This procedure excludes the hippocampus to avoid affecting memory. She will be able to drive unless a side effect appears or she is too fatigued. Some possible side effects are permanent hair loss, temporary reddening of the scalp, fatigue, and chemo-brain which can be temporary or permanent. Understandably, Mom is most concerned about permanently “losing her marbles” as she puts it. She will go in on June Second to prepare for the procedure and then they should start treatments sometime that week.
We spent the day together getting her prepared and organized and now she is busy packing for her visit to David’s tomorrow morning. I am sure that she will enjoy the time with David & family and the beautiful, pastoral space up there. I think that having some distance from all of the busyness and demands will be a welcome change. Up there, it just seems easier to take deep cleansing breaths.
Peace and joy, Karen
Ann's Hummingbird
Dearest Ann, you are in my prayers.
Thanks again Karen – it’s good to keep up with the latest about your mom – she’s such a joy! ANd she is so very lucky to have such an amazing family to support her! Thanks for all you do for her!!!
Love and prayer to your mom!!!
I hope you all enjoy your weekends ! Now all we have to do is not think about the analogy when we see dandelions in our yard 🙂
Thank you Karen for keeping us posted. I am so glad she is able to visit with David’s family and regroup[ before the next treatment.
I’d like to make some connection between this analogy and what Jesus had to say about seeds falling on various types of soil. But I’m not quite sure how to do it! So I pray that this radiation will take care of all those dandelions! And may the visit with David and family be a magnificent blessing!
Karen, thank you for your continuing help for your Mom. Also thank you for for keeping us up to date. I know that our coming reunion is uppermost in her thoughts and is helping to keep her fighting so strongly. I take it she is not driving to David’s.
I will add my deep cleansing breaths to yours with prayers for your welfare as God holds you tenderly, Ann.
Much love to you and your family! Love, Maureen
focus on having the deep abiding roots of the dandelion—one of its very best features. keep yourself rooted in who you are and leave everything else to God.
Ann, may your deep, cleansing breathes while at David’s bring healing and wellbeing.
Thank you, Karen, for keeping this blog going when perhaps Ann cannot.
Dear Karen
Thank you for sharing all this with us .
Ann is so lucky to have you by her side .
So glad to imagine Ann setting off on a break from treatment with David and folks today, Saturday. What good timing that she should be doing that just now . We hope she finds refreshment & peace of mind on her trip.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both
& love
from Liz and David
Karen,
Thanks for your email. I think your mom has a wonderful doctor, what a wonderful way of looking at the way cancer spreads, tough for your mom, tough for you. Your mom is such a trooper. I pray that God will give her the strength to make the decisions that are right for her. I cherish the time I have known her and of course will keep her, you and your brother in my prayers.
Judy Molseed
Thank you, Karen, for your loving and eloquent words. Your mother’s wisdom and strength live also in you. I like the image of her with David and family in Massachusettes this week. May there be many cleansing breaths.
Continued thoughts and prayers,
Carol