You all have been so helpful!

bfisher5560
bfisher5560 Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi, In Jan this year my 48 yr old (non-smoking) sister was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. It had spread to lymph nodes, base of tongue, into adipose(fat)tissue, and a tumor around her juglar vein and muscle in the same area. (We discovered all this additional cancer from surgery).

Upon diagnosis, it was suggested she go to Philadelphia to meet Dr. O'Malley to see if she was a candidate for the robotic surgery. She was not but he offered to do the needed surgery. It has been 5 weeks and she starts chemo on Monday plus daily radiation.

She has had a few set backs along the way. Struggles with the trach, thank goodness it came out a couple weeks ago. Nausea from meds, her incisions opened in two places causing chemo and radiation to be pushed back.

I have made 2 trips out to help the little I can. I will go again in a few weeks and we will probably stay at Hope Lodge near the hospital.

Your storys have been so helpful to read before, during, and now after surgery.

I have been so educated from your stories. I send prayers to all of you. Becky

Comments

  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #2
    Best during chemo and radiation
    Becky, thanks for posting the update on your sister. I wish her the very best in her upcoming chemo and radiation. This regimen will present a different set of challenges for her but tell her to hang in, she will get through it, and she will feel better.

    Hal
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #3
    Hal61 said:

    Best during chemo and radiation
    Becky, thanks for posting the update on your sister. I wish her the very best in her upcoming chemo and radiation. This regimen will present a different set of challenges for her but tell her to hang in, she will get through it, and she will feel better.

    Hal

    Becky
    Very sorry to hear about your Sister. After all she's had done, to now get the additional chemo and rads- will be a rough road for her. Great that you're gonna spend some time with her- know that this will mean so very much to her, regardless of how thankful she appears to be. Very rough and humbling times for even the toughest of men, and women. And will not be easy for you, either. Be strong for her, Becky. And Pray. We will-

    Believe

    kcass
  • thegirlfriend
    thegirlfriend Member Posts: 142
    #4
    Hi Becky
    Im glad that you signed on here. As a loved one to someone with the "C", ours is our own
    battle.
    My boyfriend was 3 hours from his home so he moved into a Hope Lodge near his
    hospital. Thank God for the Hope Lodge. He was there for 6 weeks. I went a few times and stayed with him as well.
    Is this not the best place to learn the real stuff, the real sides of this experience?
    I have been on here only for about 6 months, but I have learned so much, been humbled, been given pep talks, we all pray in locations around the world, but for the same thing. It has been the place where no one has said stop your whining, and just suck it up. Not in those words anyway.
    I hope your sister gets the lighter end of side effects from treatment as she has been thru so much already as youve said.
    Post here as many times as you need to. They are always well received.

    take care,

    Kathy
    thegirlfriend
  • dogsrule
    dogsrule Member Posts: 96
    #5
    I to have been helped so
    I to have been helped so much by reading everyone's posts here. I was diagnosed with SCC unknown primary and have gone thru surgery and radiation. I just joined the network and I am thankful for all the caring support you find. here. I am praying for your sister. I am a 50 year old female, also non-smoker. I also have a loving and very supportive sister whom I couldn't have held up as good as I did without her. It means so much to have the love of a sister. I am also from the philadlephia area and my sister lives in Florida. I will keep you both in my prayers.
  • bfisher5560
    bfisher5560 Member Posts: 7
    #6
    dogsrule said:

    I to have been helped so
    I to have been helped so much by reading everyone's posts here. I was diagnosed with SCC unknown primary and have gone thru surgery and radiation. I just joined the network and I am thankful for all the caring support you find. here. I am praying for your sister. I am a 50 year old female, also non-smoker. I also have a loving and very supportive sister whom I couldn't have held up as good as I did without her. It means so much to have the love of a sister. I am also from the philadlephia area and my sister lives in Florida. I will keep you both in my prayers.

    Update on sister
    Thanks everyone for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. Today my sister is doing day 3 of radiation. As of yesterday evening, the only side effects have been hiccups once or twice each hour plus what feels like a slight sunburn on her neck. I imagine each day brings more, so tonight I am braced to hear the newest effect.

    It is hard to not be there with her right now. I have to wait until my school gets out after May 5th. Her husband switched his work hours to the 3rd shift 12-7am, so he can drive her (the 2 1/2 to 4 hours depending on traffic) to Philly each day. She says it has already taking a toll on him. Another additional worry, hopeing he can stay awake. Once a family member can get out there to PA she can stay near the hospital.

    Cancer sucks!
  • bfisher5560
    bfisher5560 Member Posts: 7
    #7
    bfisher5560 said:

    Update on sister
    Thanks everyone for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. Today my sister is doing day 3 of radiation. As of yesterday evening, the only side effects have been hiccups once or twice each hour plus what feels like a slight sunburn on her neck. I imagine each day brings more, so tonight I am braced to hear the newest effect.

    It is hard to not be there with her right now. I have to wait until my school gets out after May 5th. Her husband switched his work hours to the 3rd shift 12-7am, so he can drive her (the 2 1/2 to 4 hours depending on traffic) to Philly each day. She says it has already taking a toll on him. Another additional worry, hopeing he can stay awake. Once a family member can get out there to PA she can stay near the hospital.

    Cancer sucks!

    A setback
    Yesterday Sandy was told she was in acute renal failure. This came as a surprise. She went in for her radiation and a followup check up with her Dr. Her blood work came back with the results. They said a couple nights in the hospital and a change in chemo medicine should fix things, so fingers crossed that there was no permanant damage. She was using cisplatin, so it will be interesting to see what it is changed to.

    I can get back out there after the 5th of May. It is hard to sit here and not be able to do anything.

    Thanks again for sharing with one another and having this forum to share and learn. Although I don't write very often, I read almost it daily.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #8
    bfisher5560 said:

    A setback
    Yesterday Sandy was told she was in acute renal failure. This came as a surprise. She went in for her radiation and a followup check up with her Dr. Her blood work came back with the results. They said a couple nights in the hospital and a change in chemo medicine should fix things, so fingers crossed that there was no permanant damage. She was using cisplatin, so it will be interesting to see what it is changed to.

    I can get back out there after the 5th of May. It is hard to sit here and not be able to do anything.

    Thanks again for sharing with one another and having this forum to share and learn. Although I don't write very often, I read almost it daily.

    Becky
    Hopes and Prayers for Sandy, Becky. This Cisplatin is tough stuff, and we are all familiar with the struggles of basic body functioning during treatment. Trust her hospital stay will help her, and hope it does as much as my stay did for me. Keep us informed, and hope you can be with her in May- and still keep us informed.

    Believe, Becky

    kcass

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