length of treatment

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kim50
kim50 Member Posts: 34
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hey Y'all.
I have some questions as usual but bear with me...this site is my strength.
1. how long did y'alls treatment last ...from beginning of treatment to end?
2. how many of you have had a recurrence and how soon after original? how many years cancer fre since then?
3. what did you do to cope? i do pray and study my word

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  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    #2
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    7 Weeks
    Kim, My treatment was 7 weeks of concurrent chemo & rads and am now 10 months out from the end of treatment. Coping: First, the support of my wonderful wife and dear friends was indispensable. I also tried to stay positive by eating as well as I could and made a point of exercising both my mind and my body each day. Additionally I visited this forum daily, which was (and still is) a tremendous help. Cheers.

    Jimbo
  • kim50
    kim50 Member Posts: 34
    #3
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    Jimbo55 said:

    7 Weeks
    Kim, My treatment was 7 weeks of concurrent chemo & rads and am now 10 months out from the end of treatment. Coping: First, the support of my wonderful wife and dear friends was indispensable. I also tried to stay positive by eating as well as I could and made a point of exercising both my mind and my body each day. Additionally I visited this forum daily, which was (and still is) a tremendous help. Cheers.

    Jimbo

    Thank you Jim.
    I am trying
    Thank you Jim.
    I am trying to eat well and exercise as much as possible in my condition.
    This forum is so very helpful, I do agree.
  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    #4
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    Answers

    1. 7 weeks of Rad's

    2. 13 months after my surgery for Base of Tongue cancer, I had surgery for Melanoma on my face with Sentenal Node surgery along with face reconstruction. Not the same cancer, but different and affected me worse in my mind as it was such a short time after the Base of Tongue cancer to have to deal with another type of cancer.

    3. Like many here, I Pray each day like I did before ever having cancer. How else do I cope? I try to do things that I want to do verses things that I need to do. There are days that I need to cut the grass, but put it off to the day I want to cut the grass. Try to make the need to do list into a want to do list.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here
  • kim50
    kim50 Member Posts: 34
    #5
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    MarineE5 said:

    Answers

    1. 7 weeks of Rad's

    2. 13 months after my surgery for Base of Tongue cancer, I had surgery for Melanoma on my face with Sentenal Node surgery along with face reconstruction. Not the same cancer, but different and affected me worse in my mind as it was such a short time after the Base of Tongue cancer to have to deal with another type of cancer.

    3. Like many here, I Pray each day like I did before ever having cancer. How else do I cope? I try to do things that I want to do verses things that I need to do. There are days that I need to cut the grass, but put it off to the day I want to cut the grass. Try to make the need to do list into a want to do list.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

    MarineE5,
    how long have you
    MarineE5,
    how long have you been cancer free from your melanoma?
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
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    Time in a Botttle....
    One of my favorite songs....

    Anyways, a lot depends on eachone's Rx protocul.

    For me STGIII SCC HPV+ Tonsil Cancer, I had the following;

    Dx January 2009
    Tonsils out
    Various exams and preps...
    Port Installed

    February2009
    Nine weeks of Cisplatin, taxotere and 5FU (three weeks cycles)

    May - Jun2009
    Seven weeks of concurrent (weekly Carboplatin, 35 daily rads).

    My ENT felt the first year, and especially the 2nd year were milestones...if no recurrence by then, chances are very high it won't come back. I'm still hoping on this as I hit the two year post treatment date in a few weeks...

    Coping, you do what you have to do...for me it was working from home (computer work), maintaining as normal routine as I could. Communicating with family friends, church, work, etc....Oh, and a biggie...fishing when I felt good with my wife and closest of friends.

    Best,
    John
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #7
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    answers
    1. treatment radiation and chemo 7 weeks, 9 weeks waiting for scan, 1 week later I had surgery total 17 weeks

    2A. can't say mine was recurrence since it was 12.5 years later, although it was the same type cancer

    2B. 2.5 years since last

    3. maintain a positive mental attitude... I believe that PMA is 70-80% of beating cancer. believe you will be ok and you will be ok. never, never, never give up. Never doubt your faith. by doing a thankful/grateful journal several times. lots of support from my wife/caregiver. accepted my new normal and continued to have fun.

    not sure where your going with this, but good luck

    john
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
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    fisrpotpe said:

    answers
    1. treatment radiation and chemo 7 weeks, 9 weeks waiting for scan, 1 week later I had surgery total 17 weeks

    2A. can't say mine was recurrence since it was 12.5 years later, although it was the same type cancer

    2B. 2.5 years since last

    3. maintain a positive mental attitude... I believe that PMA is 70-80% of beating cancer. believe you will be ok and you will be ok. never, never, never give up. Never doubt your faith. by doing a thankful/grateful journal several times. lots of support from my wife/caregiver. accepted my new normal and continued to have fun.

    not sure where your going with this, but good luck

    john

    Positive Attitude and Humor
    Both a big part of my life, and I agree, huge toward the fastest possible treatment plan.

    Best,
    John
  • kim50
    kim50 Member Posts: 34
    #9
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Positive Attitude and Humor
    Both a big part of my life, and I agree, huge toward the fastest possible treatment plan.

    Best,
    John

    I'm just trying to get
    I'm just trying to get inspiration from all as I am facing recurrence from nasal cancer.
    It helps to communicate with others who are dealing with cancer. The support is so needed. i have a teenage daughter and son and a husband. I don't want to break down in front of them.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #10
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    kim50 said:

    I'm just trying to get
    I'm just trying to get inspiration from all as I am facing recurrence from nasal cancer.
    It helps to communicate with others who are dealing with cancer. The support is so needed. i have a teenage daughter and son and a husband. I don't want to break down in front of them.

    The Right Place
    This is the place to get most all of what you need. I certainly wish I had it back 15 years ago now. Recurrence thoughts happen every day for me, all part of survivorship and the new normal. Back years ago there were very few to chat with as not many survived. Many now do well to get to a new normal phase of life, I am so thankful for the medical field as they have come along way. Like one of my doctors said 6 weeks ago, your part of the phase/duration of surviving that we are able to see what the real long term side effects are going to be. I hope I can help in just a small way to make it easier on those behind... nobody deserves the treatments and side effects.

    Your in the right place nice to have you on board.

    God Bless
    John
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #11
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    kim50 said:

    I'm just trying to get
    I'm just trying to get inspiration from all as I am facing recurrence from nasal cancer.
    It helps to communicate with others who are dealing with cancer. The support is so needed. i have a teenage daughter and son and a husband. I don't want to break down in front of them.

    LEAN ON US FOR AWHILE
    Although I am not on as much as I was during treatment, I do "lurk" just about every day.

    I am sorry to hear you have had a reoccurance, as I cannot relate to that. Returning to being busy an productive has been the best medicine for me. i am kind of a 'workaholic" and enjoy having 6-10 irons in the fire at any given time. i also have returned to the gym and hitting the weights hard, or "hard for me" has really added stamina and energy back into my life. I am also blessed to have a very caring spouse and two wonderfull sons who continue to inspire and motivate me every day.

    I am not sure what activities motivate you, but POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE works for any type of person regardless of age, health condition, ETC.

    And know at the end of the day, there is always at least one special person here that can relate and take some stress away from you.

    Best!!

    Mike

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