Husband finished treatment today-woohoo!

Lena Rose
Lena Rose Member Posts: 73
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My husband just finished up with 7 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation today. I can't tell you how much lighter I feel. He is relieved to be done with the treatment; but he did take his mask home. Now to focus on getting stronger without his body getting battered everyday. I just want to thank everyone on this board for your infinite wisdom and advice. Even though I don't post that often I do check it daily. From the moment we had the diagnosis in early March and having absolutely no clue as to what was going on, this board has been a tremendous help. So thank you, thank you, thank you to all for sharing your experiences. Now we'll be on edge until his next scan. Did most of you have a follow up CT scan and PET scan about 6 weeks after treatment?

Comments

  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    Hi
    That is wonderful. My dad has 9 more rads and 3 chemos to go. I hope he has a speedy recovery and try not worry to much.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Congrats
    No way did I want my mask.....

    The CT came relatively quick, but the PET is usually 3 - 6 months. The earlier the more prone to false readings from residual and scarring from the radiaiton....
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    Skiffin16 said:

    Congrats
    No way did I want my mask.....

    The CT came relatively quick, but the PET is usually 3 - 6 months. The earlier the more prone to false readings from residual and scarring from the radiaiton....

    Good News
    Glad to hear treatments are over! Good luck during recovery!

    John, it looks like you and I were the only ones that didn't save our masks. I had enough of that thing for those 7 weeks.
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    Greg53 said:

    Good News
    Glad to hear treatments are over! Good luck during recovery!

    John, it looks like you and I were the only ones that didn't save our masks. I had enough of that thing for those 7 weeks.

    Great News
    It is great that his treatment is over. I had a pet ct at 7 weeks post treatment.

    Best Wishes,
    Steve
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    stevenl said:

    Great News
    It is great that his treatment is over. I had a pet ct at 7 weeks post treatment.

    Best Wishes,
    Steve

    Lena!
    Congratualtion's to you both!
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    rozaroo said:

    Lena!
    Congratualtion's to you both!

    Big sigh of relief!
    Congratulations! Hope he finds himself stronger every day; and hope you both find peace of mind as you anticipate CTs and PETs. Enjoy the time from now until then. Like the picture!
    Kim
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450
    Kimba1505 said:

    Big sigh of relief!
    Congratulations! Hope he finds himself stronger every day; and hope you both find peace of mind as you anticipate CTs and PETs. Enjoy the time from now until then. Like the picture!
    Kim

    Don't be too on edge ...
    ... if the results of the first PET scan come back with a suspicious something or other. While we all hope for a clean first scan, the first one often is inconclusive and is subject to false positives.
    So relax a bit, celebrate and enjoy life!

    --Jim in Delaware
  • miccmill
    miccmill Member Posts: 248
    delnative said:

    Don't be too on edge ...
    ... if the results of the first PET scan come back with a suspicious something or other. While we all hope for a clean first scan, the first one often is inconclusive and is subject to false positives.
    So relax a bit, celebrate and enjoy life!

    --Jim in Delaware

    Congratulations
    A great milesotne! You both must feel good getting this part over with.

    Best wishes for continued recovery.
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    Lena
    Hi Lena, Happy to hear the treatments are over. Just keep a close eye on him as the first part of recovery can be a rough time. I hope he sails through and you can start rebuilding your new normal lives.

    Regds
    Scambuster
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Greg53 said:

    Good News
    Glad to hear treatments are over! Good luck during recovery!

    John, it looks like you and I were the only ones that didn't save our masks. I had enough of that thing for those 7 weeks.

    Greg~
    I told them they might as well keep the mask, if I took it would only be to smash that sucker......
  • Mick123
    Mick123 Member Posts: 18

    Lena
    Hi Lena, Happy to hear the treatments are over. Just keep a close eye on him as the first part of recovery can be a rough time. I hope he sails through and you can start rebuilding your new normal lives.

    Regds
    Scambuster

    Fabulous
    Wonderful news. Congrats to you both. Now concentrate on getting well and putting your lives back together.
    I admit to taking my mask. Spur of the moment thing. I don't think I've seen it since I brought it home though and not sure if my wife didn't get rid of it.
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    Mick123 said:

    Fabulous
    Wonderful news. Congrats to you both. Now concentrate on getting well and putting your lives back together.
    I admit to taking my mask. Spur of the moment thing. I don't think I've seen it since I brought it home though and not sure if my wife didn't get rid of it.

    Congrats
    I know what it was like when I finished mine, My first CT was 8 weeks out and first PET was 12 weeks out. Yea, I took mine too, my youngest got a kick out of it. Again Congrats
    Dave
  • wifeforlife
    wifeforlife Member Posts: 189
    Fire34 said:

    Congrats
    I know what it was like when I finished mine, My first CT was 8 weeks out and first PET was 12 weeks out. Yea, I took mine too, my youngest got a kick out of it. Again Congrats
    Dave

    Congrats!
    It is wonderful to have treatment over... as the caretaker be prepared for the posibility of him getting continually worse over the next weeks.... but it does all turn around!.. WOOOHOOO!
  • Lena Rose
    Lena Rose Member Posts: 73

    Congrats!
    It is wonderful to have treatment over... as the caretaker be prepared for the posibility of him getting continually worse over the next weeks.... but it does all turn around!.. WOOOHOOO!

    Thank you all
    for all your encouraging words. It's very comforting. Yes, this week is probably the worst he's felt but I'm hopeful he'll slowly start improving this week.
  • Ed_PortOrange
    Ed_PortOrange Member Posts: 110
    Lena Rose said:

    Thank you all
    for all your encouraging words. It's very comforting. Yes, this week is probably the worst he's felt but I'm hopeful he'll slowly start improving this week.

    Welcome Home
    I had my CT done at 1 month and my PET at 3 months. The PET did show something at the base of my tongue, the Dr. also felt it was probably radiation caused and not C. I have a follow-up in Sept. I started to feel better in about 3 weeks post treatments and made the mistake of thinking I could go back to my regular retirement routine, golf twice a week. Did that for two weeks and took a big step backwards. So take it easy and keep hydrated.

    Keep the Faith
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408

    Welcome Home
    I had my CT done at 1 month and my PET at 3 months. The PET did show something at the base of my tongue, the Dr. also felt it was probably radiation caused and not C. I have a follow-up in Sept. I started to feel better in about 3 weeks post treatments and made the mistake of thinking I could go back to my regular retirement routine, golf twice a week. Did that for two weeks and took a big step backwards. So take it easy and keep hydrated.

    Keep the Faith

    You are correct......
    Doctors told me at the beginning of treatment that massive amounts of chemo and radiation would help my putting stroke. Boy, did they lie. Got me yippin all over the place.

    Larry
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member

    You are correct......
    Doctors told me at the beginning of treatment that massive amounts of chemo and radiation would help my putting stroke. Boy, did they lie. Got me yippin all over the place.

    Larry

    Congrats, and
    You bring-up the issue of when you'll get the first scan. For me, it was 2 1/2-months, and "something might have shown" under my tongue. My ENT was so concerned about it that he scheduled my next PS/CT for 8-months later! Yeah, and it came back entirely "clean." SO

    THIS BRINGS-UP THE ISSUE OF WHEN THE FIRST PS/CT SHOULD BE DONE. Hondo and I are of the opinion that 3-months is too early, and that 6-months is more appropriate. One entry stated that they were told there's was done so early- "to establish a baseline," by which following tests could be compared. Who is to say you will get your PS/CT done at the same place? I got a choice of 4-5 places I could have my next done in the Quad Cities. Hey, Folks, we're talking about a $4,000-plus test that shoots radioactive isotopes into you, and the med community is gonna ho-hum it like it's just business-as-usual?! Were I to be able to do it all over again- I woulda refused the 2 1/2-month scenario, and told my Drs. that I'd be waiting for 6-months to pass. 3-months is just too danged early for anything that can be taken seriously to show- and all 3-months (like mine) are frought with false-positives and false alarms. My ENT said without any hesitation that he wasn't concerned with my first PS/CT results.

    HAS ANYONE HAD A 3-MONTH THAT SHOWED ANYTHING THAT REALLY TURNED-OUT TO BE C? If so, please let us know.

    kcass
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    lena, that is outstanding!
    lena, that is outstanding! Now you and he can start on the road to recovery. It is not an easy road either but is doable. You are both in our prayers and we send lots of best wishes.
    God Bless you friend,
    debbie
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Kent Cass said:

    Congrats, and
    You bring-up the issue of when you'll get the first scan. For me, it was 2 1/2-months, and "something might have shown" under my tongue. My ENT was so concerned about it that he scheduled my next PS/CT for 8-months later! Yeah, and it came back entirely "clean." SO

    THIS BRINGS-UP THE ISSUE OF WHEN THE FIRST PS/CT SHOULD BE DONE. Hondo and I are of the opinion that 3-months is too early, and that 6-months is more appropriate. One entry stated that they were told there's was done so early- "to establish a baseline," by which following tests could be compared. Who is to say you will get your PS/CT done at the same place? I got a choice of 4-5 places I could have my next done in the Quad Cities. Hey, Folks, we're talking about a $4,000-plus test that shoots radioactive isotopes into you, and the med community is gonna ho-hum it like it's just business-as-usual?! Were I to be able to do it all over again- I woulda refused the 2 1/2-month scenario, and told my Drs. that I'd be waiting for 6-months to pass. 3-months is just too danged early for anything that can be taken seriously to show- and all 3-months (like mine) are frought with false-positives and false alarms. My ENT said without any hesitation that he wasn't concerned with my first PS/CT results.

    HAS ANYONE HAD A 3-MONTH THAT SHOWED ANYTHING THAT REALLY TURNED-OUT TO BE C? If so, please let us know.

    kcass

    kent, like yours, mine also
    kent, like yours, mine also came back positive. I went thru a biopsy and it showed I was in fact still cancer free!! The false positive put me thru living hell tho worrying if the cancer was back. I agree with you, 3 months is tooooooo soon and only puts us thru a hell we don't need to go thru.
    God Bless you friend,
    debbie