I’m Radioactive – Laughing at Cancer
June 31, 2012: On Friday, I had a radioactive seed implanted to mark the exact site of my cancerous breast tumor. The isotope is Iodine 125 with a strength of .13 millicuries. Though Marie Curie was a pioneer in radiation research, she died as a result of long-term exposure. It’s silly, I know, but the use of her name in dosage measurements doesn’t give me a warm fuzzy feeling. She died in 1934 and even her cookbooks are still kept in lead-lined boxes and can’t be handled without protective clothing. It’s a shame, too, because I’ve been looking for a good banana bread recipe.
Before it was injected, it was checked with a Geiger counter. The meter looked the same as ones in old Civil Defense films during the duck-and-cover, build-a-bomb-shelter-in-your-backyard era. As if the contrast to the high-tech equipment in the room weren’t enough, the clicking noise sounded like the reading of radioactive coconuts on a show about Bikini Atoll I watched recently.
So I’m radioactive. Which reminds me of this song from the 80s:
More technetium, with a blue dye added, will be injected during surgery. So I’ll have Smurf pee for a day or two. I know I sound like I’m freaking out but really, truly, I know that without all these things, the tests and dyes and machines and doctors who use them, my prognosis might not be so good. All these things have saved many people and undoubtedly will save many more. That said, I want to leave you with one factino I learned about technetium 99. It’s reported to be dose equivalent to 500 chest X-rays. And that reminded me of this quote from Repo Man.
“Radiation. Yes, indeed. You hear the most outrageous lies about it. Half-baked goggle-boxed do-gooders telling everyone it’s bad for you. Pernicious nonsense! Everybody could stand a hundred X-rays a year. They ought to have them, too.”
That’s just how my brain works, people. See you on the other side!
Update – January 26, 2018: I’m still here. Five years have passed since my lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, with no cancer recurrence. So far, so good!
You sound extremely cool and collected to me! All the best! x
Ha!!! Wow!! I had no idea what all was involved. BE brave and good luck
Hugs
SUeAnn
Thanks, tink and SueAnn. I just got home from the hospital and everything went great. Thanks for your support. It means a lot to me!
You're keeping a sense of humour about it – always helps me get through stuff too. Good luck
You are a very brave person.
Thanks, it's a lovely post.
I just discovered your blog and I am so sorry to hear that you are undergoing such a painful treatment and process. I'm glad you can poke a little fun at it on your blog; it definitely makes the situation a little brighter.
As an anesthesiologist, I was very touched by your blog. You obviously still have a great sense of humor and wit. Keep that. It will help you cope. You will get through this! If you have any medical questions, you can always feel free to contact me for clarification. I'm at kateoreilley@gmail.com
Get through this & get well soon,
Kate
You can also find me @ katevsworld.com