Radiation therapy for vulvar cancer

Teresa,
Did you make it out to a movie? I'm not sure if weather changes affect how you feel? It was windy but fairly warm here. I made it through pool league. They are a great group of folks that sent me off with bunches of well wishes and prayers. Every bit of support helps! I'm learning that I don't have to try and be wonder woman! I should be sleeping but I'm on yet another search for more information. I got a phone call directly from the Dr. I will be seeing tomorrow. I am pleasantly surprised by that and it does reinforce that Mayo is going to be the right choice for me. It seems this tumor size is extraordinarily large and won't be a radiation and surgical fix. Now terms like chemo and colostomy are thrown in. That I did not see coming so my positive attitude has taken a hit. I have a lot of questions. I'm going to grab a quick shower and a snack, then try to get a couple hours sleep before we head out. Its about four and a half hours so I'll nap in the car. Sent my husband off to bed about 11. I'll update tomorrow when I've asked my questions and have some idea of what's going to have to happen.
Vicky

Teresa,
Did you make it out to a movie? I'm not sure if weather changes affect how you feel? It was windy but fairly warm here. I made it through pool league. They are a great group of folks that sent me off with bunches of well wishes and prayers. Every bit of support helps! I'm learning that I don't have to try and be wonder woman! I should be sleeping but I'm on yet another search for more information. I got a phone call directly from the Dr. I will be seeing tomorrow. I am pleasantly surprised by that and it does reinforce that Mayo is going to be the right choice for me. It seems this tumor size is extraordinarily large and won't be a radiation and surgical fix. Now terms like chemo and colostomy are thrown in. That I did not see coming so my positive attitude has taken a hit. I have a lot of questions. I'm going to grab a quick shower and a snack, then try to get a couple hours sleep before we head out. Its about four and a half hours so I'll nap in the car. Sent my husband off to bed about 11. I'll update tomorrow when I've asked my questions and have some idea of what's going to have to happen.
Vicky

I've got a long road ahead of me wirh this doc. Wondering if a change is in order? My husband has been amazing, always willing to do whatever I need. I know it's got to be over whelming for him but he just keeps going. Without violating any rules and realizing g it's Mayo Clinics site, what are you seeing in teaching hospitals vs new therapies? Its really confusing.

I've got a long road ahead of me wirh this doc. Wondering if a change is in order? My husband has been amazing, always willing to do whatever I need. I know it's got to be over whelming for him but he just keeps going. Without violating any rules and realizing g it's Mayo Clinics site, what are you seeing in teaching hospitals vs new therapies? Its really confusing.

I've got a long road ahead of me wirh this doc. Wondering if a change is in order? My husband has been amazing, always willing to do whatever I need. I know it's got to be over whelming for him but he just keeps going. Without violating any rules and realizing g it's Mayo Clinics site, what are you seeing in teaching hospitals vs new therapies? Its really confusing.

Hi Vicky,
I wish you all the best with your radiation simulation and treatment tomorrow. I think you mentioned that you are getting external-beam radiation. Or maybe I just assume you are getting external-beam radiation because you are having a simulation. External-bean radiation therapy is radiation given from a machine outside the body. During the simulation, they may have to make small pen marks or tattoos to mark where they will set the radiation beam for each treatment. This helps the treatment be precise.

Here's a little more explanation of what to expect https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=34&contentid=19551-1

Above all, Vicky, I encourage you to let the team know how anxious you are and how difficult it is to be touched, especially in this region of YOUR body. I'm confident that you will be treated with dignity and respect.

A few other things to prepare yourself for. The radiation therapist will carefully help you into the right position and will move big camera like machines to get the beam in the right position. The machine will never touch you, but it might make whirring noises and move around. Remember it is a machine and it can't touch you. You may find it uncomfortable that the radiation therapist is looking at you and focusing on your position, but remember that she is your team mate. Think about it this way. She is staring down those nasty cancer cells and giving them the hairy eye ball (I hope that makes you giggle). The machines are the big guns and their laser beams are going to zap those nasty cells.

If you wish, your husband can be with you while your being positioned etc. Both your husband and the technician have to leave the room when the radiation is given, but this takes only seconds and then they'll come right back in. You can also talk to them for the few seconds they are not in the room if you need to.

Please visualize that Teresa will be holding one hand and I the other. We're there with you virtually. And remember to breathe. You can do this.

Hi Vicky,
I wish you all the best with your radiation simulation and treatment tomorrow. I think you mentioned that you are getting external-beam radiation. Or maybe I just assume you are getting external-beam radiation because you are having a simulation. External-bean radiation therapy is radiation given from a machine outside the body. During the simulation, they may have to make small pen marks or tattoos to mark where they will set the radiation beam for each treatment. This helps the treatment be precise.

Here's a little more explanation of what to expect https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=34&contentid=19551-1

Above all, Vicky, I encourage you to let the team know how anxious you are and how difficult it is to be touched, especially in this region of YOUR body. I'm confident that you will be treated with dignity and respect.

A few other things to prepare yourself for. The radiation therapist will carefully help you into the right position and will move big camera like machines to get the beam in the right position. The machine will never touch you, but it might make whirring noises and move around. Remember it is a machine and it can't touch you. You may find it uncomfortable that the radiation therapist is looking at you and focusing on your position, but remember that she is your team mate. Think about it this way. She is staring down those nasty cancer cells and giving them the hairy eye ball (I hope that makes you giggle). The machines are the big guns and their laser beams are going to zap those nasty cells.

If you wish, your husband can be with you while your being positioned etc. Both your husband and the technician have to leave the room when the radiation is given, but this takes only seconds and then they'll come right back in. You can also talk to them for the few seconds they are not in the room if you need to.

Please visualize that Teresa will be holding one hand and I the other. We're there with you virtually. And remember to breathe. You can do this.

Hi Vicky,
I wish you all the best with your radiation simulation and treatment tomorrow. I think you mentioned that you are getting external-beam radiation. Or maybe I just assume you are getting external-beam radiation because you are having a simulation. External-bean radiation therapy is radiation given from a machine outside the body. During the simulation, they may have to make small pen marks or tattoos to mark where they will set the radiation beam for each treatment. This helps the treatment be precise.

Here's a little more explanation of what to expect https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=34&contentid=19551-1

Above all, Vicky, I encourage you to let the team know how anxious you are and how difficult it is to be touched, especially in this region of YOUR body. I'm confident that you will be treated with dignity and respect.

A few other things to prepare yourself for. The radiation therapist will carefully help you into the right position and will move big camera like machines to get the beam in the right position. The machine will never touch you, but it might make whirring noises and move around. Remember it is a machine and it can't touch you. You may find it uncomfortable that the radiation therapist is looking at you and focusing on your position, but remember that she is your team mate. Think about it this way. She is staring down those nasty cancer cells and giving them the hairy eye ball (I hope that makes you giggle). The machines are the big guns and their laser beams are going to zap those nasty cells.

If you wish, your husband can be with you while your being positioned etc. Both your husband and the technician have to leave the room when the radiation is given, but this takes only seconds and then they'll come right back in. You can also talk to them for the few seconds they are not in the room if you need to.

Please visualize that Teresa will be holding one hand and I the other. We're there with you virtually. And remember to breathe. You can do this.