Scared- please read

Here to help.

Cherie,

My husband was diagnosed with Tonsil and lymphnode cancer in mid March.  He had his tonsils and 52 lymphnodes removed on April 10th at Stanford Hospital.  He started Chemo and radiation on May 13th.  He too has to have them both at the same time.  I want you to know that Friday evening he walked out daughter down the aisle and even dance the Father/Daughter dance with her at her wedding. He was able to dance with me as well for one slow song and then my brother in law brought him home.  Cancer makes us sit up and pay attention.  It doesn''t allow us to do much else other than go to doctors appointments and clinics for lab test.  But this cancer is treatable.  By doing both Chemo and Radiation your Dad has the opportunity to put this in his past.  Our Doctor said "THIS will not be a Spring to remember, BUT... it will allow you to have many other Springs TO remember".  Your Dad needs you and your family to be strong for him.  To be positiive for him is the best medicine you can offer him, the doctors will do the rest.

My husband Alan is 1/2 done with radiation and as of today he is 2/3 done with Chemo, with NO feeding tube, but he will need the right type of "Magic Mouthwash".  

Here are a few tips we learned along the road to date:

• Make sure he takes stool softeners such as Colace & Miralax, medicines will constipate him which will make him nauseated. (chemo isn't always the culprit)
• If he is getting radiation to the neck he will get "Magic Mouthwash".  Make  sure the receipe he gets has lidocaine in it.  It will numb his mouth enough to eat well.
• This discussion board is the best!  These wonderful people gave me so many wonderful tips along the way.
• We started Silver Sulfadiazine on Alan's neck the first week of radiation and he still does not have any dry or peeling skin.
• Ensure Plus has extra calories in it that regular Ensure does not. He will need the extra calories.

Most importantly Cherie, remember this is a bump in the road, a big bump yes but nothing more.  It is treatable, doable and very cureable.  If you are able to help with his care, then do so.  It is a large task for one person, but it is doable even then. 

Try to be as positive as possilbe.  By keeping him positive you are giving him a great shot at getting better quicker.

You'll be in our prayers!

Christine

 

 

 

Danjack said:

There is always hope

Hi I hope you are all doing well under the circumstances. I have just written a blog. Please have a look. I hope it helps its www.igoggle.wordpress.com

best reregards dan x

I read your blog, Dan....

and all I can say is WOW!!  What a great attitude.....and man, you look GREAT!!  Oh, and congrats on the new baby....

p