A few of you had some questions about the radiation. Halo gave some pretty good answers. I'll try and give you some more info. The "walnut" that is left in my chest isn't cancer, it's what's left of the Tumor. The Tumor isn't cancer either, it's a symptom of the cancer. So they could go in and remove what's left of the tumor surgically, but that wouldn't really get rid of the cancer. The Chemo was to get rid of the Tumor AND the cancer. The radiation does the same. There was a possiblity that the Chemo would not have shrunk the Tumor at all. In which case, I would need a lot more radiation. In my case, since the Chemo was very effective, the radiation is to insure that all cancer cells have been killed. The reason they have to "aim" at what's left of the Tumor is that is where any remaining cancer cells would be located.
I COULD tell them I don't need the radiation, but all the cancer research shows that Chemo followed by raidiation is the best chance for the cancer to stay gone.
The radiation treatments are not painful. In fact, you don't feel anything. There are some side effects and yes there can be long term harm from the Radiation, though not as much long term harm as there is from cancer. Which is the whole point really.
Here's some more info on Radiation Therapy.
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