Things are proceeding apace, as they say. I’ve had two meetings in preparation for radiation treatments, which begin in early March and last four weeks. The final preparatory session next week, at the center thirty minutes from my Northern California home, will be a dry run.

The first of my meetings, a consultation with the chief radiation oncologist at the center, was designed to allay concerns about the procedure. The oncologist addressed each of the fears I have. He deemed all of them either “rare” occurrences “extremely rare” or said there is a “one to five percent” chance of having them happen.

And yet, I had to sign a form showing I understood the “possible side effects of radiation therapy treatment to the area of the breast.” Under common immediate reactions the form lists: skin reddening and darkening in the treated area, breast swelling, tiredness, occasional aches and pains in the breast, temporary underarm hair loss. Common long term reactions include: discomfort and sensitivity in the breast, increased firmness, swelling that can last a number of years, shrinkage of the breast, change in skin color.

In the “uncommon” category, short term reactions are skin blistering, peeling, ulceration. The blood cell count can also decrease. In the “uncommon” long term reaction category are: a significant increase in the firmness of the treated breast and permanent mild swelling.

Rare long term reactions include significant shrinkage of the treated breast, lung scarring, and cough. Extremely rare long term effects are damage to the heart leading to heart failure, tumors caused by radiation, and rib fractures in the treated area.

At the end of this first meeting, I was handed a booklet entitled “Advance Health Care Directive Kit.” This kit is full of forms that tell the HMO what the patient wants done, in the event the patient can no longer speak for herself. I see. Thank you very much. I am now in an “extremely rare” frame of mind and believe I will end today’s post here.