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Whole Brain Radiation

Aaron's radiation mask. Just in time for Halloween:)


Aaron's MRI showed too much cancer progression in his brain and now if he wants to qualify for the Huntsman drug trial he has to do whole brain radiation. This is something he has tried to avoid from the beginning because of the effect it can have on a person's cognitive abilities, but we really don't have many choices at this point so on to radiation it is. He begins today and will have a radiation session every day for 15 days with weekends off.

He will receive lower doses of radiation to the whole brain in order to kill the cancer we cannot see and he will receive higher doses of radiation that will be targeted at actual lesions in the brain that can be seen on the mri.  We hope this treatment style will reduce memory problems often associated with whole brain radiation. The actual type of radiation treatment is called tomotherapy and one of the nice things about it is that it avoids the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with emotions and memory.

Aaron's head will be bolted down in the mask above to make certain his head is in the exact same spot each time. It's a hard plastic and he says it's things like this that really test his mettle. We will ask them to cut holes out for his eyes so he can at least open them during the procedure.

After the 15 sessions there will be an additional 30 day wash out period to qualify for the drug trial; if he still feels that is the treatment option he wants to try. We have to take these things a day at a time.

Letting the plastic harden. 

our kids like watching the mask be made

Comments

  1. If Aaron says something goes so far as to test his mettle then that is a very difficult thing. I’m so sorry you have to go through this Aaron, and I hope it get easier as the days go on. We love you and pray for you always.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I too am so sorry it has come to this. I had radiation for breast cancer earlier this summer. It was indeed one of the harder things I've endured. Oh how I wished for your spiritual strength. My prayers are with you, Lorraine, and the family. I do so wish I could do more.
    I know that God loves us, he wil be thy loving companion through all of this. Continue to be strong, let Heavenly Father guide the process. Love you all and will be praying always.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aaron and Lorraine, you are in our every prayer. Even our little kids never forget the Thatchers. We are so blessed to be learning from you — these trials seem unimaginably hard, and yet we watch you endure with faith and strength. Our hearts are with you.
    - Matt and Brittany Johnson

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aaron and Lorraine, we love you. Your courage and faith is contagious.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My daughter, Sadie, doesn’t know you but every prayer she includes “please bless Aaron Thatcher”. We love you and think of you often.

    ReplyDelete


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