On March 8, 2004, a six week conformal radiation program began. This treatment concerned multiple, amplitude and space modulated X-ray beams that converged in the tumor bed. Each beam by itself is a low power beam to minimize any damage to normal, healthy tissue. But the combined effect of the low intensity X-rays, as they converge in the tumor bed, is designed to produce an effect that we pray is lethal to any remaining part of the beast. The procedure lasts a nominal eight minutes.
The mask is fastened in place - it is a tight fit on my head! So tight, in fact, that my vision is blurred in my right eye for several minutes after the mask is removed. Finally, after several weeks of complaining, the technicians removed the mesh around my right eye, and the problem is resolved.
