The Patient Transportation Volunteer and The Sharpie Kid

I had to have blood drawn this morning in advance of Tuesday’s appointment with my oncologist. “Patient Transportation Volunteer” was the job title on the identification badge of the person who took my blood.

He was making all the right moves and following the processes I’ve been through countless times over the last 8 months, so I was willing to go along for the ride and see how things went. I wouldn’t have hesitated to speak up if things went astray, but it went just fine, thank you. He’s obviously new at the phlebotomy game so it might just be that his updated ID tag hasn’t arrived yet.

So, yea, blood work for Tuesday’s appointment. This is a two-month post chemo check-in. Isn’t that absolutely amazing? My last chemo treatment was November 16, a life time ago (or so it seems). I had blood work done on December 14, so it will be interesting to see how things have changed—improved—over the last 60 days.

I feel good physically. My only complaint is that my breast and under arm are burned and uncomfortable. I only have two more regular radiation sessions, and then will have five “boost” sessions.

As explained earlier, the regular sessions have been focused on radiation to the entire breast with additional short hits to specific areas (for a total of eight deliveries). The boost sessions will focus only on the surgical area. It’s a single delivery and lasts about 30 seconds (according to Tanya, who said she was waiting to smell burning flesh).

Yesterday was boost set-up day. That involved drawing the area that will receive the focused delivery—on my skin with a “sharpie” marker. My favorite tech Natasha gave me my choice of colors (red, orange or teal) and I left it to her. She went with red and teal, and I’m sporting a “design” that I can only describe as shaped like the state of Iowa, drunk and backwards. I’ll spare you an actual photo.

Each radiation session involves marking my skin and I’ve learned over the last 26 days that sharpie marker washes off in a day or two. But with the current state of burn and discomfort, I’m not going after all this new art with any enthusiasm. I feel a bit like a graffiti board. Of course, if it all works, they are welcome to play sharpie tic-tac-toe on my chest.

I bet the burning is going to get a lot more severe (with five targeted, long sessions). I expect I’ll be in a fairly ugly frame of mind a week or so from now.