It is now Friday and “we” have come through our first week (well, four days) of radiation.  This is one of the unusual times in our 42 year marriage when Ron has been the patient instead of me.  I don’t mind it actually.  However, I’d rather that neither of us needed treatment.

Tuesday was the start of his radiation (for prostate cancer…cure expected.  This was caught early).  There will be 42 daily treatments (10 minutes!) in all with weekends and holidays off.  On day 1, I was able to watch the treatment from a booth outside the room.  It was very interesting and finally, all the information we had heard ahead of time made sense.  Some of the things that were described were difficult to visualize until I saw all that is done from the “control center” (my term).  I now understand what they were talking about when they described how they can block some of the beams so that the radiation will affect nearby areas less.  Watching it happen on the computer helped me understand it better.  Depending on the direction the machine is pointing, the computer is programmed to block certain parts of the beam.  It was very interesting to watch it automatically regulate the machine.  Before the computer, this type of treatment wouldn’t have been possible.  I told Ron he would have really liked watching it from my view.  Of course, he already knew that!

The waiting room, where I spend my time, is its own place of interest!  I have met a very interesting couple this week.  The wife and I have hit it off and found a lot of common interests as well as common issues in our medical histories…for different reasons.  We have discussed places they have lived, a book I was reading (Grace is for Sinners).  Ron has usually had  to wait a few minutes after his treatment for us to wind up our conversation!  Of course, that’s not really a new experience for him.

This isn’t really a “train” we wanted to be on, but the people we are meeting are very open.  I guess once you get cancer, you might as well be open…and friendly with fellow sufferers.   It is the great leveler of people.  It has no respect for language, race, station in life, or status.  It doesn’t care how cute, charming, intelligent, rich or beautiful you are.  You name it, no one is immune from its deadly grasp.  Our hope is to find it early and route it out quickly.  In our waiting room there are elderly of varying layers of affluence, a native spanish speaking immigrant from over 50 years ago.  (He speaks English, but with an accent.)  There is also a younger (not young–45-55 yr. old) man with a very cool sports car!  We are from different walks of life for sure!

I remember Steve Brown’s quote years ago…he probably still says it!  “When a non-christian gets cancer, a christian gets cancer so God’s glory can be seen…”  It is so true!