Anyone have any thought on steroid shots to aid healing?

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Mrs. Sarge
Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My Onc said if I'm still experiencing a sore throat/swollen throat after a month, he could give me a steroid shot to aid healing. Has anyone had one? I haven't read every post but I haven't read anything about it, but I may search it out. My profile will tell my DX but I'm a little different, not as severe as most on these boards, but it's not getting any better, it seems, after 1 month out. If fact my side effects have been worse since stopping rads, tho I don't want to discourage anyone.....you may be different!! I seem to have at least 1 or 2 coughing/choking/gagging fits a day, that leaves me weak and just wanting to go to bed.....I'm sure you can all relate.....so guess I'm wanting help with it, and if anyone has had said shot, where is it given, did it help, would you do it again??? Longtermsurvivor, I'd like your input, if you know about this shot?

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  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #2
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    Haven't heard of this one
    but 1 month out is just getting out of the cooking mode. I know I was still sleeping alot.
    Hopefully there will be more responses soon to help. Get your water and rest, recovery takes time.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
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    long acting steroids
    will take down swelling quickly, thereby making you feel better. They will also stimulate your apetite. And possibly give you sleepless nights. And is you are like me, they will make you energetic and talkative. I was on steroids for aboit two months because of my exuberant reaction to erbitux. I found them quite helpful, but given my talkativeness, my wife was less impressed.

    Pat
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #4
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    long acting steroids
    will take down swelling quickly, thereby making you feel better. They will also stimulate your apetite. And possibly give you sleepless nights. And is you are like me, they will make you energetic and talkative. I was on steroids for aboit two months because of my exuberant reaction to erbitux. I found them quite helpful, but given my talkativeness, my wife was less impressed.

    Pat

    I don't need 2 of the
    things you mentioned.....more appetite and don't need to talk more.....just getting back a little voice, and talking makes it feel worse/dryer! Great! I'm plenty energetic I guess for my age, but won't be if I can't sleep......I may hold off for awhile!! Thanks so much for info.....My husband thanks you too!!! :) BUT I will get a shot if I can't get over this stuff.....it's draining on me! AND I don't want to get addicted to Hydrocodone. I assume it's a shot or what?
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #5
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    Mrs. Sarge said:

    I don't need 2 of the
    things you mentioned.....more appetite and don't need to talk more.....just getting back a little voice, and talking makes it feel worse/dryer! Great! I'm plenty energetic I guess for my age, but won't be if I can't sleep......I may hold off for awhile!! Thanks so much for info.....My husband thanks you too!!! :) BUT I will get a shot if I can't get over this stuff.....it's draining on me! AND I don't want to get addicted to Hydrocodone. I assume it's a shot or what?

    steroids are certainly not addicting
    and I wouldnt be too worried about using them. Honestly I couldnt have completed the erbitux without them. Yes, hydrcodone can be addicting. lots of us have a bit of physical withdrawal when we come off of them after lengthy exposure. I didnt, but if I had, thats ok too.
    oh, and steroids come as a long acting shot or in pill form. Not expensive eithet.

    Pat
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #6
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    steroids are certainly not addicting
    and I wouldnt be too worried about using them. Honestly I couldnt have completed the erbitux without them. Yes, hydrcodone can be addicting. lots of us have a bit of physical withdrawal when we come off of them after lengthy exposure. I didnt, but if I had, thats ok too.
    oh, and steroids come as a long acting shot or in pill form. Not expensive eithet.

    Pat

    Does appetite stimulant=
    weight gain? That's another thing I don't need on top of everything else. This might be a different steroid than the ones I've heard about that make you gain weight, but sure don't want that either! Well, as I said, I'm certainly thinking about it and may just have to, to get over these side effects. Evidently the ONC has seen it before or he wouldn't have mentioned it....so guess I'll just see how it goes this week.....thanks again for the info!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
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    Roids
    Of another kind....

    I only had steroids once during chemo, didn't care much for them myself.

    I can offer that at 4 weeks, you could just still be on the tailing end of cooking effects from the radiation. Each of us progress differently and at our own pace.

    Hoping you start feeling better soon,
    John
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
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    Dependency and Recovery
    Mrs. Sarge....

    I realize that you have concerns, and that's understandable.

    But in the big picture, treatment and recovery of the cancer are the big issues.

    So while your concerns are normally valid, for now the main objective is killing the cancer and recovery.

    If by chance you were to have problems with the drugs, that can always be treated during and after the fact.

    No disrespect at all, just trying to throw out a little reality check..at least my feelings on it.

    Best,
    John
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #9
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Dependency and Recovery
    Mrs. Sarge....

    I realize that you have concerns, and that's understandable.

    But in the big picture, treatment and recovery of the cancer are the big issues.

    So while your concerns are normally valid, for now the main objective is killing the cancer and recovery.

    If by chance you were to have problems with the drugs, that can always be treated during and after the fact.

    No disrespect at all, just trying to throw out a little reality check..at least my feelings on it.

    Best,
    John

    You're so right!!
    John, you are so right!! Getting over cancer is the biggie.....everything else will fall into place!! Thanks for the perspective!
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #10
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    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Does appetite stimulant=
    weight gain? That's another thing I don't need on top of everything else. This might be a different steroid than the ones I've heard about that make you gain weight, but sure don't want that either! Well, as I said, I'm certainly thinking about it and may just have to, to get over these side effects. Evidently the ONC has seen it before or he wouldn't have mentioned it....so guess I'll just see how it goes this week.....thanks again for the info!

    weight gain for shorter term use
    like you are talking about is due to fluid retention. Goes away when u stopmthe drug. And a month or two is pretty short term on these drugs.
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #11
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    weight gain for shorter term use
    like you are talking about is due to fluid retention. Goes away when u stopmthe drug. And a month or two is pretty short term on these drugs.

    Oh....OK
    Thanks......If I had of been like some on here with lots of weight loss during treatment, then I could jump at the chance of weight gain, but since I only lost 2-3 lbs. and have already gained it back, I just hate to be having to diet to get rid of it, but as you've pointed out and John, in the whole scheme of things, whats a month or two.....I've gotta get well!!!
  • mls351w
    mls351w Member Posts: 90
    #12
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    Mrs. Sarge said:

    You're so right!!
    John, you are so right!! Getting over cancer is the biggie.....everything else will fall into place!! Thanks for the perspective!

    had steroid
    Hello Mrs Sarge
    After my first round of chemo, I had some kind of reaction, panicked, and had my wife take me to the local emergency room. They conferred with the on-call-onc and he recommended a steroid shot and a week's prescription of steroid pills. Never needed them again, but I was grateful that the were prescribed and that they worked!
    How are you doing young lady?

    Mark S.
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #13
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    Precaution about steriods
    I took steroids three years ago to control swelling in my neck area from the rads. It's now suspected that the steroids have contributed to the development of cataracts in both eyes, making me legally blind without my (new and thicker) glasses. I'll get one eye done in August and the other in September.

    Cataracts is listed as a "rare but severe" side effect of corticosteroids, so you might want to discuss this with your doctor before you start on them.

    mike
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #14
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    Mikemetz said:

    Precaution about steriods
    I took steroids three years ago to control swelling in my neck area from the rads. It's now suspected that the steroids have contributed to the development of cataracts in both eyes, making me legally blind without my (new and thicker) glasses. I'll get one eye done in August and the other in September.

    Cataracts is listed as a "rare but severe" side effect of corticosteroids, so you might want to discuss this with your doctor before you start on them.

    mike

    Thanks, Mark & Mike
    You gave me your own experiences, and I thank you! Mark, I'm OK, I think!! :) Taking it one day at a time, like everyone I guess. Seems like I might be a tad better, but still haven't had a steroid shot because I'd like to tough it out, but hubby is urging me on. Mike, I appreciate your experience and that is precisely why I haven't jumped at the chance for the shot. I know it's rare, but my body has been through so much so I'm leery!

    I'm thinking of going to a health food store and get some help with supplements maybe to aid in the healing. Who knows, we all just want to get better and get on with life!! Huh?
  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #15
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    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Thanks, Mark & Mike
    You gave me your own experiences, and I thank you! Mark, I'm OK, I think!! :) Taking it one day at a time, like everyone I guess. Seems like I might be a tad better, but still haven't had a steroid shot because I'd like to tough it out, but hubby is urging me on. Mike, I appreciate your experience and that is precisely why I haven't jumped at the chance for the shot. I know it's rare, but my body has been through so much so I'm leery!

    I'm thinking of going to a health food store and get some help with supplements maybe to aid in the healing. Who knows, we all just want to get better and get on with life!! Huh?

    Do not know about the shot
    all my steroids have come via Pill form, most recently prescribed to help reduce the swelling in my tongue, I have thrush again so taking other things as well for that. Im not a Doc and to new at all this to have an Honory Degree as some of the wise men and women on this blog that have come to all our rescues from time to time. But if your not sure about the shot will your doctor prescribe pills so you can kind of take it and monitor how you are doing and if its getting better. Oops I got to go finish cleaning the house, wash the car, help with laundry maybe paint something, my wife said hush whats that mean. LOL
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #16
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    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Thanks, Mark & Mike
    You gave me your own experiences, and I thank you! Mark, I'm OK, I think!! :) Taking it one day at a time, like everyone I guess. Seems like I might be a tad better, but still haven't had a steroid shot because I'd like to tough it out, but hubby is urging me on. Mike, I appreciate your experience and that is precisely why I haven't jumped at the chance for the shot. I know it's rare, but my body has been through so much so I'm leery!

    I'm thinking of going to a health food store and get some help with supplements maybe to aid in the healing. Who knows, we all just want to get better and get on with life!! Huh?

    No shots for me
    The steroids I was prescribed were in pill form, not shots. I don't know if there's a difference, but you should at least ask your doctor about this.

    Mike

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