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Too many cooks
My experience was that the first weeks after treatment were not "worse" but that didn't mean they were a whole lot better. People may point out that you are still "cooking". If you take the roast out of the oven it still cooks for a while but it can't get any hotter, if you don't mind the analogy. By now this can't make your mouth water since you haven't any saliva anyway.
They will likely not do any scans until at least a month or two after for the same reasons as above. This was the only time in my life that anyone ever considered me "hot" but I was. The only reason they did mine so soon after was because they needed to decide on and plan a neck dissection. I really don't think it was that "diagnostic".
If you have made it this far and don't have that many side effects, Congratulations! The rest may not be that much fun but it also may not be that bad. Keep us posted. Doug0 -
As Doug SaysGoalie said:Too many cooks
My experience was that the first weeks after treatment were not "worse" but that didn't mean they were a whole lot better. People may point out that you are still "cooking". If you take the roast out of the oven it still cooks for a while but it can't get any hotter, if you don't mind the analogy. By now this can't make your mouth water since you haven't any saliva anyway.
They will likely not do any scans until at least a month or two after for the same reasons as above. This was the only time in my life that anyone ever considered me "hot" but I was. The only reason they did mine so soon after was because they needed to decide on and plan a neck dissection. I really don't think it was that "diagnostic".
If you have made it this far and don't have that many side effects, Congratulations! The rest may not be that much fun but it also may not be that bad. Keep us posted. Doug
I can only reiterate what Doug says as he seems to have stated things exactly as they happened with me. Although the last part or your radiation treatment will be uncomfortable, when they are over you should not feel much worse. It just takes a little time before you start feeling better. It happens though so hang in there. Know that it's a marathon and not a sprint but when you start getting good scans, you'll start feeling a whole lot better.0 -
Welcome
Welcome to the site Fatboy? Sorry that you are here. I had several follow up checkups in the weeks following treatment. The first PET scan was 6 months after. Some have the first scan after 3 months. Head and neck cancers are more prone to produce false-positives on scans taken soon after treatment. Oftentimes it is lingering inflammation that shows up on the scans resulting in the false-positives. It wasn't until my 3rd scan 1 year out that the result was totally clean. Others receive a clean scan result the first time.
I know it's easy to say, but don't worry about something so far in the future. Concentrate on getting through treatment first. Don't obsess over something you have no control over! Stay strong. Cheers.
Jimbo0 -
Hi Fatboym
Welcome to the family my friend. Like what a lot of others have already said, first scan is anywhere between 3 to 6 months. There are a few who do a scan right out of treatment, I am just not too sure why. Don’t worry about being nervous it is normal for someone right out of treatment and before every scan. Two things you need to do, keep drinking a lot of water to keep your body hydrated and keep a positive attitude and you will do great.
Wishing you the best
Hondo0 -
Welcome
Welcome to the forum Fatboy....
I was STGIII SCC HPV+ Tonsil Dx...had the chemo and rads.
Like mentioned, first scans are usually between 2 - 6 months. The further out seems to be a little better as early ones sometimes show residual from the rads, giving false positives, and making you spaz alittle.
My scans for the first year were around every 3 months it seems. Now at 2 1/2 years post treatment I'm at a CT once a year and a PET once a year, six months apart.
Nerves and anxiety tend to hang around in some, others say not so much... I'm usually in the anxiety group.
Best,
John0 -
Hiya
Hi Fatboy - sorry to have to welcome you to this site. Along with all the other great advice given here, I would also suggest finding a H&N support group close to you, especially a laryngectomy support group if you can. Since you have laryngeal c, the best people to give you tips and pointers would be another laryngeal patient, whether they still have all the parts or not.
You can also field your question to the great people at WebWhispers and they should be able to give you a good time frame also.
Love and Hugs,
April0 -
Laryngealmswijiknyc said:Hiya
Hi Fatboy - sorry to have to welcome you to this site. Along with all the other great advice given here, I would also suggest finding a H&N support group close to you, especially a laryngectomy support group if you can. Since you have laryngeal c, the best people to give you tips and pointers would be another laryngeal patient, whether they still have all the parts or not.
You can also field your question to the great people at WebWhispers and they should be able to give you a good time frame also.
Love and Hugs,
April
Hi fatboy, I had laryngeal cancer in 2009 stage 3, had 35 rads and 3 rounds of cistplatin, you did not get the chemo so you won;t be lumbered with the side effects from that. My cancer was on the left side of the larynx and was not very big, I was told my voice would not come back, they were wrong it's back and strong. It's been over 2 years for me now and yesterday got the all clear and go to once a year checkups. MS is right, you should look up some laryngectomee websites, I was hooked up with Laryngectomy life out of the UK, they are not all lary's some are just like you and me.0 -
Welcome Fatboy
This group was a big help to me during my husbands treatment. He is stage four base of tongue with two lymph nodes. He had no side effects other than dry mouth from the rads until the last week and post treatment. The last week of treatment he had thrush, cankor sores, dry mouth and thick mucous. The thrush and sores cleared up quickly with meds but the mucous and dry mouth continue 4 weeks after treatment.
Praying you continue without any side effects.
Debbie0 -
keep moving on
Hi Fatboy,
It seems things are going well for you and you have been given a lot a great advise.It is quite normal to be nervous and to want too much too soon. Stay with the program that has brought you this far with success. I am approaching 20 blessed years of NED and I still get a anxious waiting to see the lab results prior to my annual check up. Hang tough, you're doing great. josh r.0 -
Hi Joshjosh r. said:keep moving on
Hi Fatboy,
It seems things are going well for you and you have been given a lot a great advise.It is quite normal to be nervous and to want too much too soon. Stay with the program that has brought you this far with success. I am approaching 20 blessed years of NED and I still get a anxious waiting to see the lab results prior to my annual check up. Hang tough, you're doing great. josh r.
You been gone for a while just glad to see you posting again and that you are doing well
Take it easy and one day at a time
Hondo0
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