Patient patient

The day started out pretty well. Adam had a 10am appointment with the radiation oncologist, Dr. Tenenholz, at the Vanderbilt Cancer Center to learn more about what we can expect when Adam begins radiation therapy. Adam was listening to his video player with his ipod ear buds. This has become his habit, or is it coping, whenever we are in these meetings. Dr. Tenenholz examined Adam and asked him the same set of questions that Adam has heard and I guess will hear over and over. Martha and I had to get on to Adam to pull the ear buds out, look up from the portable video screen and answer the doctor's questions.

Dr. T was actually great! Hearing a couple of days ago that Adam would require radiation sent us down, Martha especially. Dr. T was charming and optimistic. Qualities that can be lacking in many of the folks we have been dealing with--good and well intentioned as they are. Dr. T explained that though we can expect side effects these are likely to be relatively mild. The radiation treatments will not hurt and will only take a few minutes per treatment. Adam will probably lose his eye lashes and some of his brow but these will grow back. He may have some 'dry eye' as explained before, but Dr. T says this will be mildly irritating and will probably, though not definitely, be temporary. Dr. T did say that radiation therapy does increase the risk for some forms of cancer down the road but he reiterated that Adam would be getting a low dose. Technically the dose is called '36 Gray'. Apparently this is a fairly safe dose with little threat to his eye or brain. It's not that his information was so different from what we heard from Dr. Kuttesch and Dr. Mawn, but the way it was delivered and his emphasis on Adam as a very low risk for future complications resulting from radiation made a big difference. Style matters. Martha and I left his office feeling good. He even gave us a tour of the facility and showed Adam the 'mask' his staff would make that would keep Adam's head still during the treatments. It was pretty cool and Adam will be able to keep it when he is done. Future wall art!

Then we went to the Childrens Cancer Center where Adam would be processed to be admitted to get his first chemo infusion. We were a little early so we were hoping that Adam could get started a little sooner than expected. It is 8pm right now as I write and Adam's first chemo treatment has yet to begin. He finally got admitted to a room around 530pm. They did start the IV through his port-o-cath to push fluids which is apparently very necessary for chemo. He has been great all day. Patient, hanging out with mom, playing webkinz or watching The Simpsons and seemingly ok with all the waiting.

Patience, patience.

The nurses have been good, the room is relatively comfortable, but it would be great to get this thing going!