Tattoo tomorrow...finally got the courage.

Tomorrow I will get my first Tattoo! Gen and Suz gave me one for my 50th so I guess this is a tad late...and will not be nearly as creative.

The Tatt is actually to be the target for my radio therapy and will consist of a small dot on my chest. The bullseye and so it is official, radio therapy and Chemo start on Monday!

The way they work Chemo and Radio therapy is by collaboration. Both Chemo and Radio therapy together increases the impact of the radio therapy with enhanced results. The idea is to shrink the tumor and kill off any radical floating cancer cells that are outside the tumor area and undetectable, which otherwise can go undetected.

Interesting that all the treatment decisions are based on numbers from research. We have quizzed every one of the Doctors and Specialists who all sing from the same Hymm Book. First 5 weeks of radio therapy & Chemo at start and finish, followed by 4 to 6 weeks recovery and then straight into surgery. We have questioned relentlessly why surgery wouldnt be first, followed by Chemo and Radio but every one says the the numbers support the former process ...so nup, take the radio and chemo hit, then the surgery.

The closest we have got to an explanation for this is that scar tissue is created from the operation. Scar tissue has less oxygen than normal tissue and if it did harbor cancer cells, any post Chemo/Radio therapy treatment is compromised. Anyway, based on the size of the waiting rooms, and the number of people in them, Cancer is a daily event, and clearly it is trendy given every one seems to have it.

Anyway...today after my 8am blood test at Burnside Hospital was an afternoon appointment with Dr. Kevin Palumbo at the Radio Therapy Centre (in front of StAndrews on South Terrace). Great guy, very good explanation of every thing that was about to happen, and he answered without hesitation all the hard questions. The run down on the next 12 weeks was again reinforcing that this is not going to be my best 12 weeks.

I had a chat to my mate Dr. Phil Stacy dentist this morning, and he organized to debug and clean up my teeth/mouth, and so I went from Palumbo to Phil to in theory get rid of any unnecessary bugs in my mouth. One of the lovely side affects of the Chemo and Radio treatments is ulsers in the mouth plus dry and discomfort...so the plan is to reduce the bugs. Between 4pm leaving Palumbo and my 4.30 heigenist appointment I had to change things around a bit. Palumbo didn't want a whole lot of bugs set loose in my mouth right now...so we went very gently, no splashing cleaning and no bug release, just a cleaner mouth. Can you believe all this!!

A few other interesting things today. Genevieve Megan from Sunday Mail rang back today after I said I wasn't ready to talk last week, and she has been great. The Advertiser also rang wanting to do something. I have to say, even though I am doing this blog, I just don't feel right doing the paper thing. I feel really uncomfortable talking about this stuff in the press, yet I feel I want to share on this blog. I recon the difference is that only interested friends and family read this, and so it is not gossip, not for profile and is kinda a private story with friends. So I didn't return Genevieve's call today, sorry Genevieve, but I just don't know what to say...it feels too personal. A bit raw right now. The guys at The Advertiser have been awesome too, thank you!

Spoke to all sorts of people today, and more fact finding. Lots more emails, and text messages, again...thank you from the bottom of my heart. I keep saying it, but your support is such good medicine and call me selfish but I do take a great deal of strength from your messages of support. For example, I spoke of running into Bernard Booth on Saturday on my blog...such surprising support and consideration from the most unlikely people. Bernard and I have locked horns so often over decades BUT when the chips are down, Bernard you have shown why you have been such a successful and long term icon of the real estate industry, your letter was amazing, THANKYOU.

I didn't want to single out anyone, and be assured that you All have been amazing.

So what about emotions? Sylvia the kids and I have so far been strong. I expect I will become a sook once the real pain starts next week. Tonight I am enjoying a RWT Shiraz as I have been warned wine will taste like metal soon, and it sure doesn't tonight!!

I have one thing really going for me, I have so much more to achieve and I am preparing for the fight to begin in earnest commencing next week. This is such a defining time. We see the best and worst in people, we define the loyalty and the opportunists in our lives, and we get to see who we can rely on.

So tomorrow I look forward to my first tatt...the radio therapy bulls eye in preparation for Monday when the real games begin.