Lining me up.

Friday's final preparation had me lying in the prone position, elevated 4' off the ground in front of the linear accelerator (radiation machine). I was repositioned numerous times until the x-marks on my backside aligned perfectly with the machine's cross-hairs. Four x-rays were taken, and I was then lowered and marked with 3 permanent pin-point sized tattoos, made with India ink and a needle. I hardly felt it. These marks will now be the ones used to line up the cross-hairs during my treatments starting Monday. Afterwards the technician invited Doug in and explained to us about the machine and procedure, and let us know that the images they will be using for the next 5-6 weeks does not show whether the tumor is shrinking, it's strictly for positioning. I imagine she'd been asked that a lot. I will have periodic tests which will show the progress of the tumor's reduction. This weekend I will open my package of chemo pills, get them in the pill organizer - and mentally prepare for the cancer destruction commencement.