The end of treatment is in sight
John
Comments
-
Hi John
Sounds like some very good news and very remarkable on how you did going through treatment. Like you said some very good points for Tomo Therapy indeed. Take care and you should be able to do the last week standing on your head.
Wishing you the best of all Gods blessing
Hondo0 -
John
I not only broke out on my face but also on my back and arms. I was a mess. I've been through chemo twice and today my skin is better looking than it has ever looked in my life. Radiation was a real challenge, but by gosh, we got through it. This is a time for celebration.
Keep the faith and God Bless0 -
Congratulations John...
Great job John, our schedules are real close. My radiation goes through next week and 2 days the week after. Your description of how you feel is also real similar. I did not have chemo, but had the TORS and neck dissection surgeries. I have lost only 6 lbs. I count my blessings, especially reading some of the hardships on here that other people have had to go through.
Congratulations and get ready for that steak and baked potato.
David0 -
Steak and Potato
Nice big porterhouse, baking potatoes (sour cream, shredded cheddar and bacon bits) and fresh asparagus are in my fridge now....
I'll definitely think of you when I'm enjoying them tomorrow. Don't take it wrong...I have been in the same place as you, maybe even a little worse on the saliva and taste back in the day... 2 1/2 years ago, also I'm another not prescribed the PEG...there are a few of us.
I now have 90 - 95% of both taste and saliva back now. Sooo in my thoughts, you will be back there more than likely sooner than it took me to recover.
So hang in there, and know it will more than likely happen before you realize.
Best,
John0 -
FishSkiffin16 said:Steak and Potato
Nice big porterhouse, baking potatoes (sour cream, shredded cheddar and bacon bits) and fresh asparagus are in my fridge now....
I'll definitely think of you when I'm enjoying them tomorrow. Don't take it wrong...I have been in the same place as you, maybe even a little worse on the saliva and taste back in the day... 2 1/2 years ago, also I'm another not prescribed the PEG...there are a few of us.
I now have 90 - 95% of both taste and saliva back now. Sooo in my thoughts, you will be back there more than likely sooner than it took me to recover.
So hang in there, and know it will more than likely happen before you realize.
Best,
John
Keep the beef and give me fish, with that bake potato. I guess what you can taste it don’t matter what it is because it is all good.
Hey JC man I love that picture
Hondo0 -
Wow
You are doing well. I'm currenty through my third session of Erbitux, and just had my second course of Carboplatin/Taxotere yesterday. Feel like my face is melting, LOL. I had a rapidly enlarging tumor a month ago. It is shrinking like magic, and that is the Erbitux causing it. It truly has been a great addition to the armamentarium to treat SCC. Tomotherapy wasn't done when I had my first cancer in 1998 and the treatment fields were way bigger with radiation as a result of this. In part, your relative lack of radiation side effects is because they have been able to irradiate a smaller area. It is truly all good.
Best to you. Wish I could eat a steak. Its just too hard to chew and swallow right now.0 -
Shrinking Tumorlongtermsurvivor said:Wow
You are doing well. I'm currenty through my third session of Erbitux, and just had my second course of Carboplatin/Taxotere yesterday. Feel like my face is melting, LOL. I had a rapidly enlarging tumor a month ago. It is shrinking like magic, and that is the Erbitux causing it. It truly has been a great addition to the armamentarium to treat SCC. Tomotherapy wasn't done when I had my first cancer in 1998 and the treatment fields were way bigger with radiation as a result of this. In part, your relative lack of radiation side effects is because they have been able to irradiate a smaller area. It is truly all good.
Best to you. Wish I could eat a steak. Its just too hard to chew and swallow right now.
You might feel that the shrinkage is due solely from the Erbitux, not so sure, but whatever the reason it's a blessing for you.
I had similar results with Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU, and I also had Carboplatin concurrent with radiation. But the tumor (seconday location) had already dissolved before that portion of my treatment.
In my reading, I'm not so sure that Erbitux will be used as a frontline replacement for Cisplatin (although I have seen many on here that have had Erbitux). It looks like Erbitux is primarily used (and very effectively) as the chemo of choice for recurrence and mets diagnosis. Most of this resulted from a study in 2006 with a much better results percentage success rate than had been seen in the last 30 years since Cisplatin.
It's nice to know that they are still making advances toward treating these diseases....especially dealing with recurrence.
Thoughts and Prayers that the Erbitux and combination of current treatment will cure you for good.
Best,
John0 -
I thinkSkiffin16 said:Shrinking Tumor
You might feel that the shrinkage is due solely from the Erbitux, not so sure, but whatever the reason it's a blessing for you.
I had similar results with Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU, and I also had Carboplatin concurrent with radiation. But the tumor (seconday location) had already dissolved before that portion of my treatment.
In my reading, I'm not so sure that Erbitux will be used as a frontline replacement for Cisplatin (although I have seen many on here that have had Erbitux). It looks like Erbitux is primarily used (and very effectively) as the chemo of choice for recurrence and mets diagnosis. Most of this resulted from a study in 2006 with a much better results percentage success rate than had been seen in the last 30 years since Cisplatin.
It's nice to know that they are still making advances toward treating these diseases....especially dealing with recurrence.
Thoughts and Prayers that the Erbitux and combination of current treatment will cure you for good.
Best,
John
I think I'm you in the mirror, only 2 1/2 years later; you and I had the exact chemo treatment and time frame, after the 2nd infusion my tumor also secondary location was determined by my onco to be gone. The rad onco said the same thing when he saw me last week. To follow you another step I'll have 39 days of rads, along with once a week infusion of carboplatin.
Hoping to get the same results with saliva and taste, but as you all write each of us is different.
Have a great Saturday everyone,
Linda0 -
Congrats
on finishing your rad treatments, mine start on Tues,and will be for a total of 39. My rad onc is not a fan of PEG tube, but said if I loose 20% of my body weight we will discuss again, I'm crossing my fingers, kissing the blarney stony, rubbing my yard buddahs belly hoping that I won't need one either, only time will tell.
Best wishes on your journey.
Linda0 -
Cisplatin
Jim had the Cisplatin twice and it effected his kidneys so they did two rounds of the Erbitux. The only side effect was the acne which was mild and mostly on his head.
Cudos on the eating. Jim lost his taste and 40 pounds before diagnosis so had to have the PEG. 88 days out of treatment and he still can't eat or taste.
So thankful you have had an uneventful treatment and I pray you continue to rapidly heal.
Debbie0 -
Shrinking tumorSkiffin16 said:Shrinking Tumor
You might feel that the shrinkage is due solely from the Erbitux, not so sure, but whatever the reason it's a blessing for you.
I had similar results with Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU, and I also had Carboplatin concurrent with radiation. But the tumor (seconday location) had already dissolved before that portion of my treatment.
In my reading, I'm not so sure that Erbitux will be used as a frontline replacement for Cisplatin (although I have seen many on here that have had Erbitux). It looks like Erbitux is primarily used (and very effectively) as the chemo of choice for recurrence and mets diagnosis. Most of this resulted from a study in 2006 with a much better results percentage success rate than had been seen in the last 30 years since Cisplatin.
It's nice to know that they are still making advances toward treating these diseases....especially dealing with recurrence.
Thoughts and Prayers that the Erbitux and combination of current treatment will cure you for good.
Best,
John
It may be possible that Erbitux could shrink the tumor. If the epidermal growth factor receptor is blocked the cell will not divide and grow. Like all cells, cancer cells have a specific life span and will naturally die if deprived of their growth mechanism. Seems to me that this would reduce the tumor size as the cells die off.
In 2006 the FDA approved Erbitux as a front line treatment just like Cisplatin. That is what convinced my Onc to approve the treatment. It is also, and primarily used for recurrent disease. I suspect that is because there are limits to how much Cisplatin the body can take without serious problems.
My Onc explained this to me. Erbitux is very expensive ($10,000 for my intitial dose according to the info my insurance company sent to me). The oncology center must front the money for the drug and wait to get paid. Many smaller practices simply cannot afford to do this. Cisplatin is relatively cheap and generic. I think he said only a few hundred dollars. Also cisplatin is an acceptable treatment and some insurancee companies are not going to pay for a newer and more expensive drug when there is a cheaper alternative that has been in use for 30 years.
Anyway, in my case it was an option and I liked the idea of targeted therapy. In the meantime I am just trying to deicide what cut of steak to have. Porterhouse or a filet? Dog is looking over my shoulder and drooling for the porterhouse bone.
John0 -
PEGosmotar said:Congrats
on finishing your rad treatments, mine start on Tues,and will be for a total of 39. My rad onc is not a fan of PEG tube, but said if I loose 20% of my body weight we will discuss again, I'm crossing my fingers, kissing the blarney stony, rubbing my yard buddahs belly hoping that I won't need one either, only time will tell.
Best wishes on your journey.
Linda
I was very fortunate to be able to swallow with minimal pain so even though nothing tasted good and I was light on saliva I could drink Ensure. I used the clinical strength Ensure it is 350 calories,11g of fat,840 mg of potassium and 51 carbs in a 8oz container. I was told on several occasions up front that if I needed a PEG inorder to stay healthy enough to tollerate the treatment I was going to get one. I had no problem with that and in fact I kind of thought that would be the case. The majority of people get a PEG and some docs even put one in before treatment as a matter of policy.
I wish you luck with your treatment and a successful outcome.
John0 -
Mentioned Abovejtl said:Shrinking tumor
It may be possible that Erbitux could shrink the tumor. If the epidermal growth factor receptor is blocked the cell will not divide and grow. Like all cells, cancer cells have a specific life span and will naturally die if deprived of their growth mechanism. Seems to me that this would reduce the tumor size as the cells die off.
In 2006 the FDA approved Erbitux as a front line treatment just like Cisplatin. That is what convinced my Onc to approve the treatment. It is also, and primarily used for recurrent disease. I suspect that is because there are limits to how much Cisplatin the body can take without serious problems.
My Onc explained this to me. Erbitux is very expensive ($10,000 for my intitial dose according to the info my insurance company sent to me). The oncology center must front the money for the drug and wait to get paid. Many smaller practices simply cannot afford to do this. Cisplatin is relatively cheap and generic. I think he said only a few hundred dollars. Also cisplatin is an acceptable treatment and some insurancee companies are not going to pay for a newer and more expensive drug when there is a cheaper alternative that has been in use for 30 years.
Anyway, in my case it was an option and I liked the idea of targeted therapy. In the meantime I am just trying to deicide what cut of steak to have. Porterhouse or a filet? Dog is looking over my shoulder and drooling for the porterhouse bone.
John
I believe I mentioned some of that above.....
I never said that Erbitus couldn't shrink the tumor, I just said I didn't believe that it was solely responsible, as Cisplatin was one of the chemo drugs that I had, and the secondary tumor I had also dissolved away.
It's not just anacceptable chemo drug, it's a proven chemo drug. After all, it's been still being used 33 years after it was approved by the FDA in 1978.
I also mentioned the 2006 study...
Erbitux is the trade name for the generic chemotherapy drug Cetuximab...most everything is generic these days, or has a generic name.
It seems there are around five or sixmain chemo drugs being used for H&N cancer;
Cisplatin
Carboplatin
Erbitux
Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Taxotere
I know there have been a few others mentioned that escape me for the moment.
Point being that there is no definite cure all...some have pros, some have cons...they all work to some degree, and it seems to have been concluded they work best in combinations of scenarios and different individuals.
Best,
JG0 -
GenericSkiffin16 said:Mentioned Above
I believe I mentioned some of that above.....
I never said that Erbitus couldn't shrink the tumor, I just said I didn't believe that it was solely responsible, as Cisplatin was one of the chemo drugs that I had, and the secondary tumor I had also dissolved away.
It's not just anacceptable chemo drug, it's a proven chemo drug. After all, it's been still being used 33 years after it was approved by the FDA in 1978.
I also mentioned the 2006 study...
Erbitux is the trade name for the generic chemotherapy drug Cetuximab...most everything is generic these days, or has a generic name.
It seems there are around five or sixmain chemo drugs being used for H&N cancer;
Cisplatin
Carboplatin
Erbitux
Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Taxotere
I know there have been a few others mentioned that escape me for the moment.
Point being that there is no definite cure all...some have pros, some have cons...they all work to some degree, and it seems to have been concluded they work best in combinations of scenarios and different individuals.
Best,
JG
By generic I meant generic equivalent not the scientific name. Erubitux is still under patent so there is no generic equivalent and no competition to drive down the price. Sorry for any confusion.
Regards,
John0 -
Generic or NotSkiffin16 said:Mentioned Above
I believe I mentioned some of that above.....
I never said that Erbitus couldn't shrink the tumor, I just said I didn't believe that it was solely responsible, as Cisplatin was one of the chemo drugs that I had, and the secondary tumor I had also dissolved away.
It's not just anacceptable chemo drug, it's a proven chemo drug. After all, it's been still being used 33 years after it was approved by the FDA in 1978.
I also mentioned the 2006 study...
Erbitux is the trade name for the generic chemotherapy drug Cetuximab...most everything is generic these days, or has a generic name.
It seems there are around five or sixmain chemo drugs being used for H&N cancer;
Cisplatin
Carboplatin
Erbitux
Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Taxotere
I know there have been a few others mentioned that escape me for the moment.
Point being that there is no definite cure all...some have pros, some have cons...they all work to some degree, and it seems to have been concluded they work best in combinations of scenarios and different individuals.
Best,
JG
We just about all depend on our doctors to determine what drugs we need to fight our cancer. They are the ones who have studied to see what is best for what type of cancer but even then sometimes we are so different that what works on one will not work on someone else. I don’t know if there is much different between some Generic drugs or not but I do know sometimes the Generic don’t work as good as the name brand.
Hondo0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 717 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards