Kath and I just got back from OHSU where I completed my first radiation treatment.  We showed up early in hopes of getting in early and it worked!  We got in and out, as to avoid the Portland five o'clock traffic on the way home.  Before our appointment, the doctors and nurses allowed Kath to come into the back to view the equipment that was being used and explain the process to her thoroughly.  Dan is the technician who will be putting me under the machine each day and I really enjoy him.  Andy, you will pleased to know that he is a Ginger!   Unlike what we had previously been told, I will undergo twenty-five treatments rather than twenty treatments.  I will go everyday, except for weekends.  The rest of this week, we will have late afternoon appointments, but starting next week, we will have eight o'clock and earlier times.  The dosage will not be as severe as the treatments I had four years ago also.  The side effects will be the same, where I may be lethargic, feel fatigue and experience burns such as you would have from being in the sun for a prolonged period of time.  After Kath was shown the process, it took about twenty-five minutes to set up and receive the radiation.  The time for getting the actual dosage of radiation only lasts about ten minutes.  Although this is not very long, it is vital that I do not move at all.  I did pretty good for the first five minutes, but really struggled the last five.  It is imperative that the radiation is directed directly at the tumor.  The only change that I notice is the fact that the area being radiated does get warm.  Other than that, there is really no discomfort.  This was very similar to what it was like when I received this treatment years ago.  In other words, this first dosage was very easy to go through.  If it follows course, the rest of this week should be no problem.  When I get in the car, Kath puts lotion all over the radiated area and I ride home facing backward in the car seat, looking out the back window.  I have my seat belt exemption card, so I don't have to worry about being buckled in.  After the lotion has been on about four hours, I am then free to move around.  So next week I am anxious to have the afternoons to do different activities.  Again, I do not move very quickly and can not sit in a chair.  I am able to stand for a long period of time, especially if I can lean against a solid object.  For example, I am leaning against our kitchen counter as I do this blog.  I also am able to lay on my stomach, which allows me to sleep at night.  So as I have said before, I am learning how to monitor my pain daily.  I am excited to get this radiation process going in the attempt to help shrink this tumor.  After the twenty-five treatments, the doctors will wait about four to six weeks before they preform an MRI, to check to see the effects.  My family and I really appreciate all your thoughts and prayers.