Re: Medical administration of dose question

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

Robert

I recommend that you ask your relative for the radiation oncologist's phone
number, call there and ask to speak to either her/him or her/his RN, and
get the straight dope from the horses's mouth, as it were. They might
require that your relative give them verbal permission to discuss the
matter with you. Also, you might ask if the relative is on concurrent
chemotherapy.

Best wishes for your family

chris a.
alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu

At 07:50 AM 1/13/00 -0600, you wrote:
>I have a relative whole has multiple myloma (sp?) and has started radiation
>treatments.
>
>The description of the procedure was from this relative and non-technical,
>but I believe the source is an x-ray generating device that rotates around
>the patients body from front to back as the patient is horizontal.
>
>The starting dose was 160 rads with total to be 2000 rads over 15 days.
>This will be administered to the lower lumbar region.
>
>The patient has already experienced nausea, vomiting, and chills.  My
>question is what can symptoms can the patient expect over the course of the
>treatment?   I understand the implications of the total dose if administered
>at one time.  I don't know what occurs for this exposure over the time frame
>given.
>
>Thank you.
>
>Robert Boston Nuclear Safety/Operational Readiness 
>DOE-ID
>850 Energy Drive MS 4160
>Idaho Falls, ID 83401-1563
>208-526-0356 pager 6-4444 #4413 Fax 6-7414
>bostonrd@id.doe.gov
>
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