Scorpio?

Every day, as part of the standard procedures before you're zapped, you are asked your birthdate. It's to confirm you are who you are or to check that you're not beyond help or something... Anyway, yesterday, when I said my date, one of the nurses said "That's my birthday too!" (not the same year, though). And I said "so you're a Scorpio too!"

Then most of the other radiographers and the rest of the team said that they were as well...

It was a bit bizarre - a little bit like the scene in a film which I've forgotten the title of, where everybody is feasting at a table and then one person looks up at a mirror and only sees his own reflection...

I'm not suggesting for one moment that Scorpios are vampires. We're not. Honest. Well, most of us aren't. But it was quite a coincidence for all the people to have their birthdays around the same dates.

Secret Photo!

Okay, it's not actually a secret photo because it's not really of me. But at the hospital I have to go to, photography is strictly forbidden, which I think I've mentioned previously. So - this photo is one I've lifted off Google, but it's a fair representation of my treatment and it almost looks like me! Anyway, that is like the mask that I had fitted and that I have to wear when I'm being zapped. As you can see, it's very open-meshed and so there's no problem breathing and you don't feel overheated. It's fairly rigid, which perhaps isn't apparent in the photo. It's still a little off-putting when they clamp it down, but you get used to it. If you think you might get a little worried about having this done to you, ask your doctor for some Propanolol. It works wonders!

Collimators

Collimators??? Well, now I have an explanation as to why the zapping sounds like a demented carrot grater rather than some of the noises out of Star Wars! The reason is because of what are called "Multi-leaf collimators". You can read the complete guide here: http://www.aapm.org/meetings/99AM/pdf/2787-9625.pdf if you really have to.

Basically, it's a really clever device that blocks bits of the beam while you're being zapped to ensure that bits that shouldn't be zapped, aren't. And it moves around really quickly and, in my case, makes sure that my eyeballs aren't x-rayed, for example. This isn't the same as getting an MRI scan where your eyeballs are safe!

Anyway, I'm now a third of the way through the treatment and not feeling any ill effects except for the bleedin' journey...