Radiation smell and lights

lights and smell

 Have been on all of the radiation rides, traditional, tomo and now protron beam. I have been fighting for 12 years.  With the traditional I never noticed any lights other than the lazer used to target. My first ride was horrifying, it made me realize how bad things really were. I was diagnosed with late stage esthesioneuroblastoma with a tumor that started in my sinus cavity via the sniffer nerve. It manage to erode the bone behind my left eye and between my eyes. The tumor breached the skull as well as the lining, csf fluid is nasty and it was the worst  and only headache that ever required an ambulance ride and a few days in the hospital. Just for added adventure the tumor attached to my brain and when they cut the fist sized tumor out they took part of my left frontal lobe with it.  

 I could smell the tumor burning in the first few seconds of the treatment, this was a smell that would continue for the next several months before surgery to remove the tumor. I used to look directly into the machine an I never saw any lights, I did become very close with this machine, I knew every movement, sound that it made, I would watch as the head opened and closed and watching the grid change as the field changed, the last minute was always the longest. Never ever saw a light.

 

When I had tomo, I saw no lights during treatment, other than the lasers used to position the beam. Since my sense of smell was gone, bad smell was not an issue.

 

Currently I am in my 7th week of protron beam therapy. The cancer is back in three spots and one just happens to be the optic nerve and my left eye. I do see light during treatment. I aked if I should be seeing any lights besides the obvious lazers for setup, they said no. I can tell you I see every pulse of the beam via a rapid white flash. It has not been an issue. The issue I have are the blue flashes I see when I close my eyes to sleep as well as being woken up by a flash of bright light. Its diferent for sure not to mention unnerving at times but I am still here, I still have my eye, and can see with it 20/20. 

 

Regardless of what you experience, stay positive, and in the end it will be just a memory. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT !  God bless.