Finally

Hi Dan
You will not be alone my friend, I and many others will be there with you and keeping you in our prayers.

God Bless
Hondo

Jimbo55 said:

Good to get Started
Dan,

Hope everything goes really well for you during and after treatment. Keep us posted on your progress.

A couple of things off the top of my head:

Eat all your favorite foods beginning right now cause chances are you will begin to have a hard time eating soon enough and what you are able to eat will taste like crap!

Don't try to be a hero, by this I mean if you are having a lot of pain, discomfort or any other problems bring them to your doctor's attention immediately. Treatment is tough enough by itself, don't make it any harder than it needs to be.

Try to get out each and every day for a 15-20 minute walk. Research has shown that cancer patients may respond to and tolerate treatment better if they engage in moderate exercise daily. I know just getting out of the house and taking a stroll in the woods would do wonders for me mentally also.

Stay strong and best of luck to you. Cheers.

Jimbo

Getting started
Jimbo has it all right. don't be a hero but also don't be afraid to ask questions and demand answers. Have someone with you or take notes.
If you are in pain, say so and have them give you something.
It is a scary time but once you get started, take it a day at a time. Take time to rest and when you feel your body telling you to lie down, do so.
My docs said they would send me to hell and then bring me back. They did.
I was stage 4 tongue and today, 14 months out of treatment I am almost 100 per cent me again.
I had turned down the surgery and went thru 35 radiations and 7 chemos.
It ain't easy, but it can be done.
Reach out anytime and we will be here for you!
Nancy

Some key things to keep in mind
For most HN cancer patients, the survival rate (based on 5 years, no recurrence) is very good--usually around 70-80%. The most crucial concern is how your body will handle the rads and the chemo. So, know your real enemies here, and do what your docs say to get through the treatments, not "just" the cancer. All of the advice you got here is excellent--don't be a hero about the pain, try to consume as many calories as you can, exercise early and often, have good support in place, and let your body heal at its own pace.

Tonsil Dad - Dan the Man...
Glad you are finally getting underway.

I had a timeline similar to you in someways. Dx on January 2, 2009.

STGIII SCC Tonsils and a lymphnode HPV+.

Tonsils were removed January 5th, confimed at that time STGIII SCC. The tissue was sent out and a few weeks later confirmed HPV+.

A small setback with diverticulitis caused a delay to Tx. But while going through that I had the port put in, mask fitted, etc..

I think like you I started sometime in March and finshed up mid June.

My Tx was nine weeks (three week cycles) of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. Then seven weeks concurrent weekly Carboplatin and 35 daily injections of Amifostine and rads.

Personally I don't pay any attention to percentages and survival rate time frames. We are all different going in, genetics, age, general health...and we all know that statistics can pretty much say anything you want depending on the variables and setup.

As long as I'm above ground and moving, I'm 100% surviving.

Same with after effects or residual from treatment. Some have more than others, like everything else, we are all different.

For now at nearly three years post treatment, I have nearly 100% of both taste an saliva. I'm not on any meds, all blood work is within normal ranges. Even at this time my TSH levels (thyroid function indicator) has came back into normal range. I'm 58 (in one week).

Do I have any long lasting effects from treatment, of course I do..., various aches and pains mainly. More than likely jaw bone damage, though not a factor as of yet. Always the possibility of future secondary cancers from treatment.

But in reality, who knows what's instore for any humans whether you went through this or not. I know that if I didn't go through the treatment my odds of being here presently are pronbably pretty low to none.

So for me personally, I'm aware that there is always potential collateral damage. Is it any more than I would have potential that something other than cancer would have affected me in future years...doubtful.

So I'm not into any gloom and doom concerning what I'm left with as a result of treatment....

To me what I'm left with is prolonged living....and I'm good with that.

Best,
John