Our Brave Little Star and BFF Battle The Brain Tumor

Chapter 6

Starscream was getting ready to go home. But first thing was first. He had to have his simulation scan. Starscream was very nervous about but he was going to find out what he had to do. When he does he was going to be very brave. 

Starscream was seeing his radiation oncologist Dr. Grete. "Okay everything is checking out to be normal," Dr. Grete said. "You will soon have your simulation scan." he said. 

"Will it hurt?" Starscream asked.

"No the simulation scan will not hurt," Dr. Grete said. "You will make your mask and then have your scan," he said.

"How many different types of radiation are there for therapy?" Starscream asked.

"There are a few different kinds, x-ray, electron, gamma and proton beam," Dr. Grete said. "It all depends on your type of cancer and where it is at," he said. "Most with brain tumors either get x-ray, gamma, or proton beam," he said.

"Oh," Starscream said. "How long will I have it for?" he asked.

"Any where from 2-7 weeks, it all depends on your the type of tumor and where it is at," Dr. Grete said. "We also decide things by your age too," he said. "Kids under 3 years old don't get radiation treatment," he said. "They normally only get chemotherapy until they are older normally depending on their tumor type," he said.

"Oh okay," Starscream said. "Will the mask hurt?" he asked.

"No not at all it will just keep your head still during your treatment so only your tumor is zapped and nothing else," Dr. Grete said. 

"How much of my brain will get the radiation?" Starscream asked.

"Normally just the spot where the tumor is," Dr. Grete said. "it also depends on the type of tumor and whether or not it has spread and the type of radiation you get," he said. "In most cases of medulloblastoma the whole brain gets zapped." he said. 

"Oh okay," Starscream said. "How do you decide which type of radiation is best for me?" he asked.

"We will decide that while me other doctors and scientists look at you scans from the simulation," Dr. Grete said. "If you need a type of radiation not offered here at our hospital you will go to center or hospital that does offer it and come back here for other treatments," he said.

"What about chemotherapy do I get that during radiation, before it or after it is over?" Starscream asked.

"In Medulloblastoma you get chemotherapy after radiation treatment is finished, after your last radiation treatment you will rest for 4 to 6 weeks and then you will start chemotherapy," Dr. Grete said. 

"Oh okay," Starscream said. "Will my siblings have to worry about me getting radiation will they get any of the radiation when I come home from treatment because I am radioactive after treatment each day?" he asked.

"No Starscream your siblings will not get any of the radiation you are," Dr. Grete said. "The radiation won't make you radioactive, so your siblings, friends and other people have nothing worry about," he said.

"Oh okay," Starscream said. "Will I be able to go home after radiation?" he asked.

"Yes most of the time radiation therapy is an outpatient treatment which means you will go home right after your treatment is over for the day," Dr. Grete said. "But you can also have it done inpatient but that is only me and the rest of your care team think it is best," he said. "But right now we think you will do okay with outpatient," he said.

"Will I be able to spend time with my friends?" Starscream asked. 

"Yes you will, but you might want to wait until your radiation treatment is done for the day or until the weekend," Dr. Grete said. "You don't get radiation on Saturday and Sunday," he said.

"Oh okay," Starscream said. 

"The coolest thing is after your last treatment you get to take your mask home," Dr. Grete said. 

"Wow," Starscream said. 

"After your mask is made you can even ask the therapist to paint it to look like a character or have cool design, that way it will be more fun to wear and make treatment easier to do," Dr. Grete said.

"Neat," Starscream said.

Starscream was soon in the part of the hospital where he was going to have his mask made. Starscream was nervous and held on to Callie the capybara. Starscream saw his friend Hannah was there. "Hi Hannah," Starscream said.

"Hi Starscream I am getting my mask made today," Hannah said.

"I am getting my mask made today too," Starscream said.  

Starscream was soon taken back to make his mask. Starscream laid down on the table. The mold room tech name James dipped the plastic in water. It made it get all soft and floppy. Then he stretched it over Starscream's face. Starscream stayed nice and still for it. Then after about 10 minutes the mask was hard. Then James took the mask off. "There we go all done," James said.

"It looks like me," Starscream said. 

"It sure does," James said. 

Starscream was then taken to get his MRI for the simulation. He stayed very still for it. He didn't move a muscle. Then after about 45 minutes the scan was over. "Well done Starscream," radiographer named Greg said. 

Starscream was glad that was done. Then he went back to his room with his mother. They made sure they had everything. "Okay I got Callie," Starscream said. "There are my PJs, my slippers, my toys, my books, and the pictures I made," he said.

"I also got other things too," Hyperia said. "Okay I double checked and it looks like we have everything," she said. 

"Okay so now can we go home?" Starscream asked.

"Yes now we are going home," Hyperia said.

Starscream was very happy and looking forward to going home. He was very happy and hoping to be home very soon. He got into the car in his car seat and Hyperia placed the bag with his things in the back with him. 

Then they headed home and Starscream was watching things pass by from his car seat. Starscream was looking forward to seeing his brothers and sisters. Once home he saw a sign that said welcome home Starscream. 

Starscream came out of the car and Thundercracker's dog Buster greeted them. "Hello Buster," Starscream said. 

Starscream also saw his sibling's pets. "Hello Soar," he said to Slipstream's pet cockatiel. "Hello Coach," he said to Novastorm's pet tarantula. "Hello Dr. Noodles," he said to Skywarp's pet snake.

"Hi Slipstream, hi Thundercracker, hi Novastorm, and hi Skywarp," Starscream said.

"Hello Starscream," Slipstream said.

"Welcome home little brother," Thundercracker said.

"Hi there little bro," Novastorm said.

"It is great to have you home," Skywarp said.

"Hello son welcome home," Megatron said. "I am so glad you are home again," he said. 

Starscream was happy to be home. Starscream soon got settled back into his room. He was soon going to start his cancer treatment so he was going to need to rest and recover until then. But for now he was happy to be back home.