17 September 2018 - Room 11, Radiotherapy Department, Cancer Centre, QEH

Radiotherapy treatment room

Deb's first radiotherapy treatment was scheduled for 2 pm this afternoon. We first saw a senior technician who took us into a side room to explain what was going to happen. He said the whole process would only take about 5 minutes. Deb would first be scanned by a CT scanner (built into the machine) and the results would be compared to the scan used when preparing the mask to ensure Deb was accurately positioned on the table.The radiography would then be carried out to a preplanned schedule during which the head of the machine would rotate around Deb on the table. This would take 3 or 4 minutes.  

The equipment in the treatment room was ultra modern and looked liked something out of Star Trek. The room was bathed in a soft blue light and crisscrossed by bright green lasers to provide accurate positioning.I left then before they switched on the radiation beams.

Deb said she noticed no ill effects from the treatment but I suppose it is early days yet. We return tomorrow at 9.00 in the morning.