Donna in Hollywoodland

The Radiologist

Today was my appointment to interview the Radiologist.
I have to start investigating having radiation to my left breast. If I start soon, there is a good chance I will be done before the Christmas holidays start. Its worse enough I will have to do this over Thanksgiving. But I definitely don't want to
be doing this over Christmas. And I want to make a whole new start in 2006.

One thing I do when looking for a new doctor, is I notice how they treat other patients.

As I was in the waiting area filling out the paperwork, there was another lady there. Maybe 10 years older than me.
She sat and waited.
A technician came out, and sat next to her.
"Mrs. Smith - I notice you are always a half hour early for your appointment. Would you like to change the time? And move up the schedule?"
Mrs. Smith said yes, she would - because she takes the bus, and that is the time the bus arrives.
The technician said no problem, they could give her an earlier appointment time.
Well, I thought that was very nice.

Next a woman sat next to me. She told me that she is the Social Worker there.
The Radiology place has a Social Worker ? Well, thats kind of nice too.
She asked me if there was anything non-medical she could help me with.
I mentioned about not knowing how tired I would be after my radiation treatments, and wondering if there was a shuttle bus available.
She said "Oh, thats exactly the type of thing I would help you with."
Then I told her, that I had turned down chemotherapy, but was thinking about the radiation. But that I was really interested in alternative treatments and options.
She was very interested in this, and said she had pamphlets and flyers for me.
When I was finally finished with the doctors appointment, she met me in the lobby and gave me all sorts of brochures.
Some of which were about The Wellness Community.

Soon the doctor came out himself to get me, and shook my hand. We walked back to an examining room.
I sat on a chair, and he sat on a chair across from me.
All in all, we spent a good hour and a half talking.
I asked him all sorts of questions. From very detailed - how much radiation? How do you know it won't reach my heart ?
What are the side effects ? Will it make me tired ? Will I be able to work?
To the very silly question: If I am having radiation, will my cat be able to sit on my lap? She won't get radiation from me will she ?

He answered all my questions in detail. And I think he was actually enjoying it. He seemed to be a pretty good teacher.
He was enjoying all the technical descriptions he was giving me.

I told him that I have a big annual event on Friday the 21st. And I wanted to start the radiation after that, so that I would be done before the Christmas holidays.

Later on, he left while I changed into alittle smock. The nurse came in the room with him as a chaperone.
They seemed very interested in the music company that I work for.
"I'm sorry, I can't get concert tickets." I half-lied.
And they were very interested in the Annual Event next Friday, and all the movie stars I would see.

He did a Breast Exam. Then told me to change into my clothes and left again.

After he came back, we discussed my vitamins: 1 multi-vitamin, flax seed oil, Co Vitamin Q10, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Grape Seed Extract, Calcium/Vitamin D/Magnesium and Lysine.
He said that I am taking alot of anti-oxidants. And then he explained in detail to me what antioxidants will do to the Radiation they will give to me :
It will make it ineffective. Or basically, kill it.
So you can't take antioxidants while having Radiation. Or the Radiation won't work.

So next time someone tells you "Oh, you just pee out all those vitamins you are taking."
Tell them, "Well, Donna's Radiologist told her that antioxidant vitamins are powerful enough to kill radiation administered by a hospital."

Just think what those vitamins will do if you drive under a power line, or stand in front of the microwave.
Pretty amazing.