The Giant Kitchen-Aid

Today's treatment was a bit of a disaster. Lucky for me, my sister Nina came with me to see the chaos unfold. She offered to drive me to my radiation appointment today since I was still a little sore & groggy from my surgery yesterday. Unfortunately, due to some "technical difficulties" with the radiation machines, we had to wait for almost 2 hours before I could get into the treatment room. Because I'm being treated for a 4cm tumor, the treatment field is very precise and the radiation machines are calibrated specifically for my body. I have 3 tiny dots that were actually tattooed on my hips and my backside so that they can line me up exactly the same way each time. Nina remarked right away that the machine looked like a giant Kitchen-Aid mixer without the bowl. Are you visualizing this? As it were, I have to lie down on a long table over a "belly board" which allows my tummy to drop into the opening so that gravity will help pull my healthy organs away from the treatment site. The idea is to minimize collateral damage to other organs from the radiation. They also told me I have to arrive with a full bladder which further helps to distend my bowels away from the radation field. So, I'm lying on my belly, with a fresh & still painful portacath surgery scar on my chest, full bladder, totally uncomfortable, but having to hold absolutely still so that the dots are lined up on the machine. After about 10 minutes, the tech comes in and says that they weren't able to take the films or start the radiation beams due to the previously mentioned technical difficulties. They switched me to another machine, same process, and still no luck because the software has a safeguard which protects the system from running duplicate treatments for the same patient profile in any given day. The techs were mortified and so apologetic, so I couldn't get upset with them. But the treatment didn't happen today. Only 2 days into my regimen and it was a total bust already. I didn't care-- I really had to pee......We'll try again tomorrow.