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My Daily Dose of Radiation

by Karen Lynch

I’d need 33 doses of radiation therapy after my diagnosis of DCIS in 2003 and resulting partial mastectomy.

The night before my treatment I listened to the audio CD I had been given: A Meditation to Help you through Radiation. I fell asleep while listening to it; perhaps the messages got through subliminally I wondered when I awoke. But I was still afraid of the unknown.

Treatment Room on Flickr Photo SharingAs I was settling in on the table the very first day I could not help but wonder why something that was so dangerous everyone else had to be on the other side of the wall was deemed safe enough for me that I could lie there with half my body exposed.

On my chest I wore semi-permanent tattoos created with a purple Sharpie. The technicians laid me down on the table and lined me up just so … just so that the radiation was purposely aimed and precisely administered at my chest.

As I laid as still as I could I remembered the advice of a woman I’d met in a bible study I attended: at moments when you have the greatest fear, close your eyes, and visualize the face of Jesus. That’s just what I did. And, I said the The Lord’s Prayer to myself over and over again until two minutes had passed and the ladies walked back in the room.

“I can get dressed now?” I asked as they went about their business.

“Yes,” they answered, smiles on their faces. Amazing. I hadn’t felt a thing, no pain, no nothing. This I could handle, I thought. This I could handle.


Posted in General, Radiation, Spirituality, Treatment on April 15th, 2007

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About Discussing Breast Cancer

Discussing Breast Cancer is the place for survivors, their friends and family members to turn for information that will empower them to navigate through the storm they may find themselves in before, during or after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Many of the posts are about the author's personal experience as a two time survivor. In addition, Discussing Breast Cancer is loaded with timely news and information about the disease, it's symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It will also reference the myriad of sites, individuals and organizations that either raise money and/or awareness for the cause or in some way contribute to researching a cure or serving breast cancer survivors worldwide.

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