Treatment number 7

"You brought a bodyguard today?" the nurse joked as we stepped into the radiotherapy room.
 "Yes," mum replied, "All the way from Canada!" She sounded proud and happy that I was there with her.

At the entrance was a wall with a scenery of majestic mountains, which brought life to the otherwise sterile room. I turned a corner, and saw mum climbing onto an adjustable platform. Behind it, a massive contraption made of shiny metal, with two parts protruding out of the front like outstretched arms. The body of the machine had a monitor of some sort, dotted with figures and what looked like a bulls-eye. By now, mum was on her back, and the nurse fitted her custom-made protector guard to protect her head and face from excess radiation. Like a friend described, it looked like an iron mask, and according to her, being confined under that mask and being unable to move was one of the most excruciating experience she has ever had.

The nurse motioned to me to leave the room, and everyone left except for mum who lay on the table. The thick door slowly closed, and a red light flashed above it to warn others about the risk of  radiation exposure and to keep away.

I watched from a few steps away at the tightly shut door. I stood there for a few moments, wondering about what must be going through mum's mind at the time. She has done this five times already, and she looked like it was nothing daunting or new to her. Perhaps, as my friend assured me, radiotherapy is less strenuous on the body compared to chemo therapy. But, as I later learned from talking to the nurse, there are still side-effects. Constant feeling of thirst and dryness of the mouth, throat aches, pain in swallowing, and if the radiated area is exposed to sunlight, it will make the skin blacken.

Mum has already begun to complain of pain in swallowing and the thirst. The nurse said that it will get worse as the treatment continues, and told me a few things about what she should eat. Hot foods can irritate the throat further, so better to have cooled foods, and soft foods to ease swallowing and alleviate pain. My friend said for a while she ate lots of juices and soups, and blended just about everything, including meat. Nutritional beverages exist that can act as a meal replacement and contain all the essential nutrients necessary for the patient. What is important is to continue eating, so as not to loose too much weight.

The door slowly opened, and I followed the nurse into the room. Mum was sat up and removed her mask slowly. She looked a little tired, but looked relieved that it was over. The whole procedure must have lasted five minutes, not much more. But did it feel like an eternity for her, strapped and confined under that mask and unable to move, while machines and lights whirled above your body?

Six treatments down... ten more to go.