Just got back from my first radiation treatment a little while ago. I have to say the experience was actually kind of cool. All of my breathing and meditation practice focusing on healing light paid off big time!
The ride over is quick and easy along the Miami River where there are some cool old buildings, tug boats, yachts and the Miami River Lobster and Stone Crab Co. After I turn the corner I go over the draw bridge and voila, Sylvester Cancer Center. It only takes about 12 minutes including time waiting for the draw bridge to close.
I got there about 1/2 an hour early so I could have some time to relax. I read a short essay in Art As Therapy by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong. Then I looked at some photos of Meier, Sophie, Aaron & Olivia and some photos of me and Aaron & Meier celebrating my first victory over cancer. I spent the rest of the time meditating on some small prints from my recent show.
The room where I received my treatment is pretty cool. The machine looks rather futuristic and they have a cool blue light oval on the ceiling that reminds me of work by James Turrell. All of the masks hanging on the back wall added another layer of interest like specimens in a natural history museum. I could see the whole room as an installation piece.
To begin the technicians had me lie on the table and lined my head up with the head support. Then they had me insert the mouthpiece into my mouth before fitting the head and shoulder mask on me. Once they had the mask on they strapped it down pretty tight to hold my head in a precise location. Because it was my first treatment they had to shoot a couple of X-Rays to test my alignment. Once the doctor came by and approved they were able to start the actual treatment. The whole thing took about 20 minutes.
I was able to stay relatively calm and relaxed throughout. At first I was a little anxious and could feel my heart pounding. I focused on my light mediation and breathing and settled in. Each time I felt the anxiety start I was able to breath through it to the point where I was nice and chill.
Most of my meditation has focused on the blue light in my recent work so I think it’s very cool that the room has the blue oval light in the ceiling. It’s difficult to see with the mask over my face, I can’t really open my eyelids because it’s so tight, but I can catch glimpses of it.
As the machine moved around me it made lots of interesting whirring and movement noises reminding me of the introduction to Pink Floyd’s Welcome To The Machine. Singing that song in my head also helped make my first treatment a positive experience.
Back home now having a celebrator juice made with carrots, apples, ginger, beets, purple sweet potatoes, purple carrots and Greens +. A yummy and nutritious way to celebrate my health!