Any Info will help

DM1 said:

checking in

Had my mask made yesterday and a schedule for treatments. Monday the 17th is my loading shot of erbitux then radiation starts on the 24th with the second shot of erbitux. Time to fight. Thank you everyone for all the support and information.

 

 

Mike

starting treatments

Mike, I know getting the mask made was a bit freaky... it is really tight (and needs to be as the radiation is pretty precise) and while you're on the table, in your mind transport yourself to another place with great memories and the treatment will be over before you know it.  You'll get to know the sounds of the machine and from the sound you'll know how much time you have left on the table.  The staff is really good at unfastening your mask as quickly as they can so you can sit up.

You had asked me how long before you start feeling better once you start.   It's great you're doing Erbitux as the biggest side effect is acne and you will most likely look like a teenager going through puberty!  It will get much better before you finish but for a few weeks you'll most likely have it on your face, chest and back (at least that's where mine was).  You won't lose your hair, I was only sick the first 2 treatments but after that it was pretty easy.   Keep lotioned up (but do NOT do it before your radiation) and they can give you a prescripition for some ointment with an antibiotic that will help with the acne.

The first 2 weeks of radiation will be pretty easy but you'll start noticing your mouth will get dry and soon you won't be able to leave the house without grabbing a water.  Drink as much as you can as often as you can because getting dehydrated really makes you feel miserable.  Once you start feeling bad you'll most like feel a little worse each radiation treatment until your finished, and then you'll probably feel the worst for 1-2 weeks after the last radiation treatment.   Get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated and manage the pain/side effects.  The human body is an amazing thing in it's ability to repair itself.  It just needs time, and a little help with the symptons along the way, but you will start to recover and will begin to feel better.   My throat still hurt like hell with every bite for 5 months past my last radiation treatment but then it started to feel better fast.  now I'm 8 months out and other than a little dry, I don't have any throat pain and can't eat almost anything but spicy foods.  All my taste is back so my old time favorites are still my favorites:)

Keep the your attitude of now is the "time to fight".  You are in for a battle but you are stronger and bigger than this, so just keep fighting, and when you need encouragement look to your beautiful wife and she will give you all the strength you need.   My wife, 2 grown children, mom, brother, sister and friends were unbelievable and your wife looks like she is a fighter as well.   Get checked out at the dentist as well and get that flouride tray.   A lot of people lose teeth during this ordeal but so far I've done Ok and going to the dentist today for a cleaning/checkup.

Good luck my friend as you are now a warrior and you're in for a battle but you will win!!!

Keep us posted and if you need anything we're as close as your computer.

All the best,

Keith

2nd opinion

My husband had stage 4 throat cancer, tongue and nodes involved. He had robotic surgery and neck dissection on the right side. Followed with 7 weeks of radiation and chemo. He had no problems, sailed right through. No feeding tube, no teeth pulled. Overall did GREAT! I agree with the others regarding a 2nd opinion. 

wmc said:

2nd opinion YEP. You bet.

I was told T4 N2 Mo just before surgery and was told I could not servive radation because how bad my lungs were. So we decided to do a full laryngectomy and become a neck breather the rest of my life. [But I have a life now] I never knew how lucky I got. As it turned out it was T3,N0,M0 and the tumor got all the cancer out. They did a neck dissection on both sides and removed 86 glands, [no robotic surgery] by hand. I never had to have chemo or radation. They put in a TEP at the time of surgery and I was talking in two weeks and back to work in 10 weeks. Now here is the best part. I can whistle, blow out the candles on a cake with one breath, blow up a balloon, and the best one yet. I can blow my nose. I could never be able to do that with radation. I went to a large hospital over 200 miles away and met with a tumor board to decide what treatment was the best for me. Thank God for Stanford Medical. There ranked #9 in the nation and saved my life.

I do so wish you the best and will keep you in my prayers.

Bill

bill, my cancer was described

bill, my cancer was described as T3 and that's all.  what are the other letters in your dx?

dj