Summary: Today I finished the last of 15 radiation treatments at the Bayview campus of Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. So far, I have not had any noticeable side effects. I am grateful for the care which the radiation oncology team has shown. Read below for more details on my three-week sojourn in Baltimore.

Radiation: Over the course of three weeks, I had 15 days of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), focused on a small lymph node. IMRT uses a complex arrangement of radiation beams to fit the shape of the tumor. This was stretched out over several weeks with relatively low doses to protect the nearby vital organs and vessels.

On 4 of those 15 days, they also treated a second tumor using Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). This method uses sophisticated image guidance (like a GPS) to pinpoint the exact three-dimensional location of a tumor while limiting the dose to the surrounding organs. Dr. Voong said this method delivered six weeks’ worth of radiation in four days, which was safe because this tumor was not as close to vital organs.

Side effects: I was warned about the many possible side effects of the radiation—nausea, vomiting, coughing, mild skin irritation, and most commonly, fatigue. So far, I have not suffered any of these. It is expected that there will be internal inflammation in the immediate area of the tumors, which will likely show on my next CT scan. When I asked Dr. Voong why I’m not experiencing side effects, she said it’s because I’m “young and fit,” and because I’m very active. That was great to hear. I walk 30 minutes in the early morning by myself, and 30 minutes with Bonita in the evening. We also pick up trash along the street. Last Wednesday, I met one of the local “residents” who also picks up trash.( See his picture below.)

Striking the bell:  At the entrance to the radiation room, there hangs a bell with the following words: "Your day has come to strike the bell; Your silent heart has much to tell. And much to toll this proud new day: treatment done, you're on your way. I struck that bell to celebrate the end of this procedure. (See video below).

Looking ahead: I may yet develop internal symptoms over the next few weeks, as the radiation has its effect on the cancer cells. I will be under Dr. Voong’s supervision for the next year. I will see my regular oncologist, Dr. Lam, who will monitor the expected shrinking or dying of the tumors, and decide whether I need additional treatment, such as chemotherapy. For now, I will continue to take the daily dose of targeted therapy in the form of a capsule, with the hope that it will keep any other tumor from spreading over the next months/years.

Hope Lodge: This “home away from home” has been a wonderful blessing for us. In the attached photo, I show a photo taken of most of the patients and caregivers standing in from of an RV, as part of a tour by Ricky Smith of Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere (R.A.K.E.). Smith presented a program on August 29 as part of a tour to all 30+ Hope Lodges in the U.S. (See group photo below, which includes Ricky with Hope Lodge patients, caregivers, and staff). We were pleased to have visits from friends on three different occasions during our stay.