JIM BEGINS TOMO RADIATION

Jim began tomo radiation on Dec. 3rd. Tomo radiation is able to pinpoint a certain location and "zap" only that area. The area of the pituitary gland is the "target". It is located behind Jim's nose, under and near the base of the brain, below the optic nerves and in between the carotid arteries. This explains why the radiation must be pinpointed and exact. Here is a picture of the machine. You will notice it looks like a CT-scan machine. It does that function also and Jim has a CT-scan at the beginning of every tomo radiation treatment. Then daily calculations are taken and the radiation follows.

Jim comes in and he settles in on the machine's table.

They put his mask on that was made and molded to his cute little face. The rectangle on the side of the mask has a horizontal and vertical line on it. When Jim is settled into position on the table, then a crosshair's lazer light lines up the the horizontal and vertical lines on the mask.

Jim is left alone in the room. The tech comes out and looks at this screen. He begins the CT-scan. The results are shown immediately. Then the tech begins his calculations on the exact location of where the tomo radiation is to be administered. After he has it set, a doctor comes and double checks and makes any changes that he thinks needs to be made. Then the treatment begins. It lasts about 4 minutes. The tomo radiation actually circles around the target area, but Jim doesn't move. So it is "zapping" the new tumor and the old tumor location from different angles. The red circle shows the target area.

There is also a camera in the room, so the tech can see Jim at all times. They also play Jim's requested music while he is being treated. He requested the Eagles, but he is thinking of changing it to The Mormom Tabernacle Choir. They tell Jim that his biggest job is to hold still.
The whole process takes about 20 minutes. Every Wed. he meets with the Dr. afterwards to touch base and get reports of the progress and ask any questions.

5 1/4 weeks left to go. Hang in there Jim.