Why is radiation the worst so far? The treatments are short, only about fifteen minutes (though they are five days a week). Radiation doesn’t make Corinne as sick as did chemotherapy. It doesn’t leave stitched up wounds or scars like surgery.

Perhaps radiation is worst because it’s coming at the end of this treatment regimen for us. We’re tired of it all. Perhaps because it’s invisible and scary. As a German who lived downwind from Chernobyl, Corinne has sensitivities about radiation different from those of most Americans, and – deep in my heart – I believe radiation causes cancer. Perhaps it’s worst because Corinne’s CT scans and PET scans could see absolutely no cancer in her body, but we’re doing radiation anyway.

Radiation makes Corinne hurt. And it makes her mad.