Random Thoughts

The Big Exposure

Posted by Gregg Kemp on September 24th, 2007 — Posted in Art, Life and Cancer, Diary, Pinhole Photography

This week is a big one for me. I finally get my radioiodine coctail. If all goes well, this will begin the destruction of the tumor on my spine. Last time I came within 24 hours of getting the juice, but in the last few hours the tumor began growing like crazy and I had to opt for emergency surgery to allow the surgeon to pare it down. That resulted in another 3 month wait while my body cleansed itself of the iodine used in the surgery. Its all pretty complicated, but now I have another go at destroying the tumor. I’ll be admitted into the hospital on Friday, Sept. 28 where I’ll get the radioiodine and will remain there a couple of days until the NRC Safety guys says its safe for me to be among the public again.I spent considerable time in the nuclear medicine facility this past week, going through what they call “dosimetry”. During the dosimetry, they gather data about how much of a coctail I can handle. I think they believe I can hold my own and are going to lay it on strong. That’s good if they do, in that it increases the chances of killing the cancer. On the down side, I may be a bit more ill from the dose. But a small price to pay.Art continues to be my best way of dealing with all this. I’ve been feeling a little anxious about it all lately Do you think it shows?