A Radiating Remission

So it seems that allowing people to read about my journey through cancer was short-lived since the last time I posted was in October. Since then a lot has happened: I completed chemotherapy, celebrated a few holidays, started radiation, and secured a job as an SAT tutor. As of late, I have been feeling a lot better and my primary oncologist has stated that according my most recent CT and PET scans I am now in remission. Remission: a little three-syllable word that has brought many sighs of reliefs and tears of joy from my family and friends. For those of you who do not already know what the term means, it is to say that my cancer is no longer a direct threat to my health and I am temporarily recovered. 'Remission' is as close to being cured as I will ever be of Hodgkin's Disease. Unfortunately, I have been advised to continue with radiation therapy because combining chemotherapy and radiation has proven to be more effective in curing cancers in the long run. Today I received my 13th treatment of radiation out of a total twenty. Radiation is completely different from chemotherapy even though both procedures are used as treatment for cancers. In comparison, radiation is more so a "spot treatment" rather than injective, which is a nice change. For me, that means no more IV's and hopefully no more collapsed veins. However, I have to say that radiation treatment is rather quick and impersonal; it's also tedious getting up at eight o'clock in the morning every weekday. Aside from a three-day cold, which made my throat feel as if it were on fire, I've only suffered minimal side effects, including tanning of my neck, some hair loss, and a sore throat. I can't wait until I don't have to see a doctor so often!