Dad's 1st chemo yesterday, rad begins wednesday

CherieLW
CherieLW Member Posts: 472

Hey everyone,

You have all been so supportive so I thought I would update everyone on my dad.  He made it through yesterday's treatment okay.  After 6 hours no nausea or tiredness.  He was out mowing the new land yesterday and today he is doing some errands and working on the new place as well.  I know pretty much everyone has said that that is expected for the first one or that it doesn't wear you out as much.  I'm using everyones advice, counting down...

1 chemo down, 2 to go

35 rads starts tomorrow

Nervous as we start to get further into this, but confident that dad will be just fine in due time! 35 radiation treatments seems like A LOT.  I do have one question for everyone, how many rads/chemos did you have to go through?  I know some have mentioned this, but others haven't.  Thanks for everyone thinking and praying for him.  You've all been in my prayers and thoughts as well...

Going in this as positive as I can.  Keeping faith.  

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Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Cool Deal...

    More than likely he has a few good weeks before it starts hitting him hardest... More than likely that'll be due to lack of calorie intake..., between no taste and saliva, and possible nausea from chemo and rads.

    Myself, I had nine weeks (three weeks cycles of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU (strapped in a fanny pack for four days)). The three chemos on Monday, then no chemo for three weeks...start the cycle again, with some hydration and blood booster (Neulasta Injection) between cycles.

    Then seven weeks of concurrent, Carboplatin each Monday, rads every day (M-F) for 35 days...

    The 35 days of rads is pretty standard with a few that had something a little different...

    Keep him very hydrated, can't stress that enough..., starting today and through out treatment.

    JG

     

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472
    Skiffin16 said:

    Cool Deal...

    More than likely he has a few good weeks before it starts hitting him hardest... More than likely that'll be due to lack of calorie intake..., between no taste and saliva, and possible nausea from chemo and rads.

    Myself, I had nine weeks (three weeks cycles of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU (strapped in a fanny pack for four days)). The three chemos on Monday, then no chemo for three weeks...start the cycle again, with some hydration and blood booster (Neulasta Injection) between cycles.

    Then seven weeks of concurrent, Carboplatin each Monday, rads every day (M-F) for 35 days...

    The 35 days of rads is pretty standard with a few that had something a little different...

    Keep him very hydrated, can't stress that enough..., starting today and through out treatment.

    JG

     

    Thanks for your input.  I

    Thanks for your input.  I knew from reading a lot of posts it will take a bit too affect him.  I will most certainly make sure he stays hydrated!! Everyone has stressed that so if I have to I'll follow him around with water bottles lol ;)  

    Tomorrow starts the rads. Ready to count those down.  I know they have dad some type of steroids,  ativan, nausea meds.   There is one other pill I'm not sure what it is.  

    Thanks for support

    Cherie

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    CherieLW said:

    Thanks for your input.  I

    Thanks for your input.  I knew from reading a lot of posts it will take a bit too affect him.  I will most certainly make sure he stays hydrated!! Everyone has stressed that so if I have to I'll follow him around with water bottles lol ;)  

    Tomorrow starts the rads. Ready to count those down.  I know they have dad some type of steroids,  ativan, nausea meds.   There is one other pill I'm not sure what it is.  

    Thanks for support

    Cherie

    Meds..

    For big doses of chemo I had Emend for three days..., awesome stuff..., wicked expensive. Daily nausea meds were Zofran..., or Phennigrin (something like that)... For my first week I was freaked by being strapped down and the mask, so I had Xanax... Again, great stuff, could drive and all, it just took the edge off of anxiety.

    I weaned myself off of it in a week once I was OK with the routine...

    Best ~ John

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472
    Skiffin16 said:

    Meds..

    For big doses of chemo I had Emend for three days..., awesome stuff..., wicked expensive. Daily nausea meds were Zofran..., or Phennigrin (something like that)... For my first week I was freaked by being strapped down and the mask, so I had Xanax... Again, great stuff, could drive and all, it just took the edge off of anxiety.

    I weaned myself off of it in a week once I was OK with the routine...

    Best ~ John

    Glad you had something for

    Glad you had something for anxiety,  hope my dad does Ok with  ativan.

  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    CherieLW said:

    Glad you had something for

    Glad you had something for anxiety,  hope my dad does Ok with  ativan.

    Getting Chores done

    not to unusual after the 1st treatment, so he should go for it.  Time and further treatment will slow him down but its temporary until he gets thru treatment.  I had Base of Tongue IV , 2 Chemos, 9 Erbitux and 33 RADS, tough but doable and I got thru it as a  man with Polio useing  crutches and wheelchair, I drove to 99% of my treatments with my grandbabies momma most of the time and my wife when necessary since she worked.  So it is doable and he will be fine just a long journey that will go in a blink of an eye.  Good Luck

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472
    ditto1 said:

    Getting Chores done

    not to unusual after the 1st treatment, so he should go for it.  Time and further treatment will slow him down but its temporary until he gets thru treatment.  I had Base of Tongue IV , 2 Chemos, 9 Erbitux and 33 RADS, tough but doable and I got thru it as a  man with Polio useing  crutches and wheelchair, I drove to 99% of my treatments with my grandbabies momma most of the time and my wife when necessary since she worked.  So it is doable and he will be fine just a long journey that will go in a blink of an eye.  Good Luck

    Wow,  this really gives me

    Wow,  this really gives me hope.   You are one tough man!  Not familiar with erbitux?  Can you elaborate on that one?  Thx for the encouragement.  Its just rough not knowing what lies ahead.  But dad's strong and healthy otherwise so I'm very hopeful! !

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    Please check my profile for details regarding treatment.

    In a nutshell, I had 35 sessions (a couple of times it was done 6-7 hours apart twice a day, to recoup the long weekends). I didn’t miss any of these and I drove (1.5 hours x2) myself every day, except the day when I had morphine for the g-tube procedure. The side effects started immediately, a slight nausea, but became really significant 3 weeks in. The worst was during chemo treatment (cisplatin) and the last 2 weeks + 1 week post radiation. I didn’t work the whole time (I couldn’t). Now I am 6 months post treatment (9 post radiation) and I am doing really, really, great. I have a bunch of side effects, but really manageable and things continue to improve (slowly, but surely). In spite of the side effects, I feel better than pre-cancer era, because I see things differently. I always had something to complain about; was not generally happy with my life. Now I have a general state of well-being, even the lack of any serious symptoms makes me feel blessed. Hard to explain, and I guess even harder to understand, unless you’ve been through hell.

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472
    corleone said:

    Please check my profile for details regarding treatment.

    In a nutshell, I had 35 sessions (a couple of times it was done 6-7 hours apart twice a day, to recoup the long weekends). I didn’t miss any of these and I drove (1.5 hours x2) myself every day, except the day when I had morphine for the g-tube procedure. The side effects started immediately, a slight nausea, but became really significant 3 weeks in. The worst was during chemo treatment (cisplatin) and the last 2 weeks + 1 week post radiation. I didn’t work the whole time (I couldn’t). Now I am 6 months post treatment (9 post radiation) and I am doing really, really, great. I have a bunch of side effects, but really manageable and things continue to improve (slowly, but surely). In spite of the side effects, I feel better than pre-cancer era, because I see things differently. I always had something to complain about; was not generally happy with my life. Now I have a general state of well-being, even the lack of any serious symptoms makes me feel blessed. Hard to explain, and I guess even harder to understand, unless you’ve been through hell.

    Thanks for your response.  I

    Thanks for your response.  I always feel so good when I hear stories of strong ppl like yourself.  Your story is inspiring in your post, gives me higher hopes. I'm glad to hear you are doing so well.  I definetly cannot imagine what anyone has gone through,  but I think I'm more scared than dad.  Do you still have a gtube? If so,  may I ask how long you had to have it?  Please feel free to share anything else you think I should know.  I've been relating things back to dad,  information and tips ppl have given me on here.  I haven't got him to get on here yet.  I don't push him cuz he's handling it better than me (or hiding it really really well). I just get on him about things he needs to do cuz I love him.  Dad is retired,  but he keeps busy,  getting ready to move,  amongst other hobbies. I'm going to read your profile like you suggested.  Thanks again!  :)  

  • Laralyn
    Laralyn Member Posts: 532
    Glad to hear he's started!

    The sooner he starts, the sooner he's done and he can begin healing. :-)

    Have you asked about Mugard? I think it helped me a lot in terms of oral mucositis--I had almost no sores in my mouth at all. You want him to start before the rads or as soon after as possible. If his doctor's can't get it past insurance, you can contact them at their website (www.mugard.com) where there is a form you can give to your doctor to fill in. When Phrannie and I went through treatments, they were giving it to patients or charging a greatly reduced amount of money for it to help get the word out.

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    CherieLW said:

    Thanks for your response.  I

    Thanks for your response.  I always feel so good when I hear stories of strong ppl like yourself.  Your story is inspiring in your post, gives me higher hopes. I'm glad to hear you are doing so well.  I definetly cannot imagine what anyone has gone through,  but I think I'm more scared than dad.  Do you still have a gtube? If so,  may I ask how long you had to have it?  Please feel free to share anything else you think I should know.  I've been relating things back to dad,  information and tips ppl have given me on here.  I haven't got him to get on here yet.  I don't push him cuz he's handling it better than me (or hiding it really really well). I just get on him about things he needs to do cuz I love him.  Dad is retired,  but he keeps busy,  getting ready to move,  amongst other hobbies. I'm going to read your profile like you suggested.  Thanks again!  :)  

    I had the G tube inserted

    I had the G tube inserted between the first and second chemo cycle, i.e. 10 days after starting radiation. I had some small complications (intense pain), but only for the first 2 days (most people don’t have any real troubles with the tube). I had it for too long I would say; it was taken out after 7 months. I really needed it for only a couple of weeks, when I couldn’t ingest anything (not even water) due to the pain. In my case it served its purpose, I don’t regret having it, although for too long (later on, if no longer needed, it slows down your recovery, a little bit). And just so you know, I am not at all courageous. But if you want to survive, you go through this, you have no better option. True, you become a little “tougher”, after this experience. My point is, anybody can survive this, and it’s doable. You only need some encouragement from people who already went through this.

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472
    Laralyn said:

    Glad to hear he's started!

    The sooner he starts, the sooner he's done and he can begin healing. :-)

    Have you asked about Mugard? I think it helped me a lot in terms of oral mucositis--I had almost no sores in my mouth at all. You want him to start before the rads or as soon after as possible. If his doctor's can't get it past insurance, you can contact them at their website (www.mugard.com) where there is a form you can give to your doctor to fill in. When Phrannie and I went through treatments, they were giving it to patients or charging a greatly reduced amount of money for it to help get the word out.

    Thanks Corleone and Laralyn. 

    Thanks Corleone and Laralyn.  Things to think about and look into.  I will surely look into Mugard, I had never heard of it.  Dad just got out of first radiation and doing okay.  Glad these are getting started as much as Im not looking forward to it so we can put this all behind us!  In my opinion, anyone who has to go through this is brave because you really have 2 choices in my opinion:  1) give it all you got and go through treatments fighting tooth and nail or 2) You give up. So I have a lot of respect for all of you because I have known people who had given up.  It is very inspiring to me to hear all your stories. 

     

    Thinking and hoping for the best for everyone.  You're all in my prayers!

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    CherieLW said:

    Thanks Corleone and Laralyn. 

    Thanks Corleone and Laralyn.  Things to think about and look into.  I will surely look into Mugard, I had never heard of it.  Dad just got out of first radiation and doing okay.  Glad these are getting started as much as Im not looking forward to it so we can put this all behind us!  In my opinion, anyone who has to go through this is brave because you really have 2 choices in my opinion:  1) give it all you got and go through treatments fighting tooth and nail or 2) You give up. So I have a lot of respect for all of you because I have known people who had given up.  It is very inspiring to me to hear all your stories. 

     

    Thinking and hoping for the best for everyone.  You're all in my prayers!

    Cherie

    Due to the fighter in one self you find yourself in a mindset you never dreamed of. Sure when your told you have cancer you start thinking the what if. But you get to a point of being so pissed off that #2 is not an option. I had good days and bad days and many times since I have ask myself if I had to do it all over again would I go through it all? I would have to say yes I would because I seen what happens after you get through it. All the things that have changed with my body were all worth the fight because they weren't created by cancer but instead the fight that I put up. Life is good. Your Dad will pull through and he needs you to show the confidence you have in him. Sometimes the unspoken words will go beyond the spoken in helping loved ones conquer the enemy.

    One day down............push forward the last days of treatment are off in the distance but within sight.

          Jeff

     

     

  • Christine Gabrielle
    Christine Gabrielle Member Posts: 20
    CherieLW said:

    Wow,  this really gives me

    Wow,  this really gives me hope.   You are one tough man!  Not familiar with erbitux?  Can you elaborate on that one?  Thx for the encouragement.  Its just rough not knowing what lies ahead.  But dad's strong and healthy otherwise so I'm very hopeful! !

    My husband has 12 radiation treatments to go

    And he is driving himself for the treatments, just very tired when he gets home.  He is not mowing the lawn but he can go to the movies which we enjoy doing.  It's a time to rest and relax.

    One thing he has done from the beginning, is mark each day on the calendar off with a BIG X when he gets back home.  We have both May and June stapled together so he can see that he is on the backside of this trek with only a couple weeks left.  We have also planned a vacation with our grandchildren for September.  The doctors believe he will be able to march through Disneyland with ease by that time and it gives him something to really look forward to.  I walk with him daily which helps his strength and helps the meds move through him quickly.

    Cherie, do not be alarmed if he sleeps for the next few days.  My husband sleeps the days away after Chemo, primarily days 4, 5 and 6 after Chemo.  I've always thought of rest as healing.

    It's really incredible what we are capable of.  After each treatment that your Dad goes through he will see that it is something he is capable of and that it is doable.  We just have to help our loved ones take one day at a time and not rush them or dwell on the what ifs.  We just need to work with our daily reality.

    These fabulous survivors here on this board have gotten me through the last 2 months.  They are wonderful, listen to them as they have lived it.

    I know you are worried about what lies ahead, but believe me whatever it is....you can handle it.  Stay strong, stay positive.  Humor is very helpful as well.

    Laugh as much as possible with your Dad and smile, life is still good.....very very good!

     

  • janetluvsron
    janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
    so how is your dad today?
    my

    so how is your dad today?

    my husband ron is due to start all on monday.

    god bless,

    janet

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472

    My husband has 12 radiation treatments to go

    And he is driving himself for the treatments, just very tired when he gets home.  He is not mowing the lawn but he can go to the movies which we enjoy doing.  It's a time to rest and relax.

    One thing he has done from the beginning, is mark each day on the calendar off with a BIG X when he gets back home.  We have both May and June stapled together so he can see that he is on the backside of this trek with only a couple weeks left.  We have also planned a vacation with our grandchildren for September.  The doctors believe he will be able to march through Disneyland with ease by that time and it gives him something to really look forward to.  I walk with him daily which helps his strength and helps the meds move through him quickly.

    Cherie, do not be alarmed if he sleeps for the next few days.  My husband sleeps the days away after Chemo, primarily days 4, 5 and 6 after Chemo.  I've always thought of rest as healing.

    It's really incredible what we are capable of.  After each treatment that your Dad goes through he will see that it is something he is capable of and that it is doable.  We just have to help our loved ones take one day at a time and not rush them or dwell on the what ifs.  We just need to work with our daily reality.

    These fabulous survivors here on this board have gotten me through the last 2 months.  They are wonderful, listen to them as they have lived it.

    I know you are worried about what lies ahead, but believe me whatever it is....you can handle it.  Stay strong, stay positive.  Humor is very helpful as well.

    Laugh as much as possible with your Dad and smile, life is still good.....very very good!

     

    Christine,
    Funny you

    Christine,

    Funny you mentioned the calendar thing bc I already made one up.  I printed June and July and did a countdown for his 35 rads and 3 chemo treatments.  I gave a copy to my dad/mom and sister, as well as kept one for myself as something to look forward to (ENDING TRTMENT). 

    Thanks for all your encouragement, it really does helpt o know that this can be done!  I worry all the time about dad, but this week I have kept a positive outlook, haven't cried once in front of him and just praying a LOT!  I hope you and your husband are able to have a lot of fun on your vacation once he's had time to recover.  Im sure it makes things a little more pleasant having things to keep you busy and things to look forward to.  Dad and Mom just bought a new house so they have a lot to work on.  Hoping dad is able to keep busy with it. 

    Does your husband have a peg tube?  I have asked everyone this bc it concerns me although many have given great advice about it and made me feel somewhat better about it.  I've tried to get on here at least every other day as I find all of your stories and information valuable beyond what any other website can give me.  It makes me feel better than talking to the doctors who are really positive that dad will be cured. 

    Thank you thank you...

    p.s. Thinking of you and your husband and sending prayers your way. 

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472
    Duggie88 said:

    Cherie

    Due to the fighter in one self you find yourself in a mindset you never dreamed of. Sure when your told you have cancer you start thinking the what if. But you get to a point of being so pissed off that #2 is not an option. I had good days and bad days and many times since I have ask myself if I had to do it all over again would I go through it all? I would have to say yes I would because I seen what happens after you get through it. All the things that have changed with my body were all worth the fight because they weren't created by cancer but instead the fight that I put up. Life is good. Your Dad will pull through and he needs you to show the confidence you have in him. Sometimes the unspoken words will go beyond the spoken in helping loved ones conquer the enemy.

    One day down............push forward the last days of treatment are off in the distance but within sight.

          Jeff

     

     

    Thanks for encouraging me.  I

    Thanks for encouraging me.  I am really feeling a bit better about it the past two days.  I know its still early but dad is doing great so far.  I've not broken down once this week in front of him, whereas it was uncontrollable when we found out, I was heartbroken and lost.  Now, I call him or see him every day...get on him about drinking fluids, ask him how hes feeling, let him know I'm thinking of him always.  My niece and nephew are coming down with my sister to visit him tonight so I'm glad that always puts a smile on his face.  :)

    He has a lot to look forward to... like I mentioned previously moving soon, he just got a house with a little pond so he can still enjoy fishing! Something we enjoy together every summer.  Just a few weeks ago I went out there and he caught a catfish almost 3 foot long I bet!  It was huge! The little things like that is what we live for!

    Counting down the days to last treatment!  I made us calendars to help countdown.  I'm sure dad thought I was being silly, but I know it helps mom, older sis and I!  Hope you are doing well Jeff!  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers always!

  • CherieLW
    CherieLW Member Posts: 472

    so how is your dad today?
    my

    so how is your dad today?

    my husband ron is due to start all on monday.

    god bless,

    janet

    Janet

    Sorry to hear that your husband is starting these treatments Monday.  What kind of cancer was he diagnosed with if you don't mind me asking?  Dad has his in the nasal cavity and one lymph node was affected. I'll be praying for you all and thinking of you...I know it is scary, but as everyone has said on here just stay positive!  It really helps to have things to look forward to. 

    One thing I can tell you, is last week I was scared as heck! I cried all week, even cried before dad went into treatments. I was more scared than him!  

    Monday he had his first chemo and he did great!  They did a saline drip in his IV, then nausea meds, then chemo, then more saline.  Dad had to use the restroom a lot- as you might have read many do.  I read a lot of people's inputs to prepare myself for what was to come... Anyway, no nausea. It took about 6 hours, then dad went and mowed at the new house and did some errands.  He's been out working on the new house every day despite starting radiation on Wednesday.  He has to complete 35 rad trtments (he has 32 left).  He said he didn't feel anything, no discomfort or anything.  I was really scared knowing tht they were going to have to secure my dad's head down during radiation, but he said it was no biggie.  He did get somethign for his nerves prior, but the doctor explained why they had to do that.  Its so they target the cancer cells and avoid hitting healthy ones, as well as keeping his head in place to hit the target exactly each time.  So just try to look at everythng as positive as possible.  I'm glad my dad started trtments when he did, because I'm ready for them to be over...

    This site has offered a lot of support.  So many ppl have gone through similar trtments and had the same cancers and you all see them here today so that is something to be really grateful for!  If you have any other questions pls feel free to ask.  Many have helped me and I would love to help you all in any way I can, even if it is just reporting how dad is to help others get through their experiences. 

    Also, just remember that nowadays there are better trtments and ways to soothe side effects, whereas there wasn't years ago.  Phrannie, Skiffin, and many others have given so much valuable information and prepared me for what we are facing now.  I'm right here with you!  Only a week behind...

    Praying for you both as you begin this dreaded journey.  Just think only a few months!  You know how fast that is going to go? 

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    His first week

    is done! YAY!! Hope your dad is feeling good. 

     

    I hope you're doing ok this week, too. 

  • janetluvsron
    janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
    CherieLW said:

    Janet

    Sorry to hear that your husband is starting these treatments Monday.  What kind of cancer was he diagnosed with if you don't mind me asking?  Dad has his in the nasal cavity and one lymph node was affected. I'll be praying for you all and thinking of you...I know it is scary, but as everyone has said on here just stay positive!  It really helps to have things to look forward to. 

    One thing I can tell you, is last week I was scared as heck! I cried all week, even cried before dad went into treatments. I was more scared than him!  

    Monday he had his first chemo and he did great!  They did a saline drip in his IV, then nausea meds, then chemo, then more saline.  Dad had to use the restroom a lot- as you might have read many do.  I read a lot of people's inputs to prepare myself for what was to come... Anyway, no nausea. It took about 6 hours, then dad went and mowed at the new house and did some errands.  He's been out working on the new house every day despite starting radiation on Wednesday.  He has to complete 35 rad trtments (he has 32 left).  He said he didn't feel anything, no discomfort or anything.  I was really scared knowing tht they were going to have to secure my dad's head down during radiation, but he said it was no biggie.  He did get somethign for his nerves prior, but the doctor explained why they had to do that.  Its so they target the cancer cells and avoid hitting healthy ones, as well as keeping his head in place to hit the target exactly each time.  So just try to look at everythng as positive as possible.  I'm glad my dad started trtments when he did, because I'm ready for them to be over...

    This site has offered a lot of support.  So many ppl have gone through similar trtments and had the same cancers and you all see them here today so that is something to be really grateful for!  If you have any other questions pls feel free to ask.  Many have helped me and I would love to help you all in any way I can, even if it is just reporting how dad is to help others get through their experiences. 

    Also, just remember that nowadays there are better trtments and ways to soothe side effects, whereas there wasn't years ago.  Phrannie, Skiffin, and many others have given so much valuable information and prepared me for what we are facing now.  I'm right here with you!  Only a week behind...

    Praying for you both as you begin this dreaded journey.  Just think only a few months!  You know how fast that is going to go? 

    ron has stage 3 left tonsil

    ron has stage 3 left tonsil cancer with 2 lymph nodes  will have 39 rads with weekly cistplatin

    got his picc today and mask mapped for rads.

    starts everything on monday.

    I have met phrannie, T, skiffin and civil matt and hondo. they and many others have been a wealth of info.

    like you I was freaked and emotional the first week and trying to get a lot of info. then the cancer society sent him a packet telling him survival rates of 50% for 5 years, it was so outdated from 1998 to 2001, was so mad. thats when I got on here and started chewing ears off to get as much info as i could.

    I am a nurse at his primary care drs group, so have a lot of help and support to answer my questions , but they cant help with the answers like these ppl on these boards.

    I will be watching your dads progress closely and it sounds great so far. hope its statys that way.

    there are 2 others on here i chat with too, john and sandy and another person who is almost 4 years out ned. i am bad with names lately due to insomnia is all

    over the place. wonder why?!

    we have our arsenal ready, biotenes, stoppers 4 and xyletine came today. tons of whey protein, berries and yogurt , l-glutamine, mucinex, aquafir lotion.....

    so I guess we are ready to start. will add more once T and the rest post more.

    so keep up the faith, one day at a time is all we can do. we have to take care of ourselves (hard to do with worry) so we stay strong for them.

    god bless

    janet

  • Christine Gabrielle
    Christine Gabrielle Member Posts: 20
    CherieLW said:

    Christine,
    Funny you

    Christine,

    Funny you mentioned the calendar thing bc I already made one up.  I printed June and July and did a countdown for his 35 rads and 3 chemo treatments.  I gave a copy to my dad/mom and sister, as well as kept one for myself as something to look forward to (ENDING TRTMENT). 

    Thanks for all your encouragement, it really does helpt o know that this can be done!  I worry all the time about dad, but this week I have kept a positive outlook, haven't cried once in front of him and just praying a LOT!  I hope you and your husband are able to have a lot of fun on your vacation once he's had time to recover.  Im sure it makes things a little more pleasant having things to keep you busy and things to look forward to.  Dad and Mom just bought a new house so they have a lot to work on.  Hoping dad is able to keep busy with it. 

    Does your husband have a peg tube?  I have asked everyone this bc it concerns me although many have given great advice about it and made me feel somewhat better about it.  I've tried to get on here at least every other day as I find all of your stories and information valuable beyond what any other website can give me.  It makes me feel better than talking to the doctors who are really positive that dad will be cured. 

    Thank you thank you...

    p.s. Thinking of you and your husband and sending prayers your way. 

    No Peg Tube

    Cherie,

    So happy that you are feeling a little more positive, it's the best gift we can give our loved ones.  It shows we have strength, strength that they can lean on when they  need to.  Cherie, you are much younger than myself but I can tell you that once you get to the other side of this you will look in the mirror and see a much stronger woman than the one that stands there today. 

    No Alan did not want a PEG so he is going without one.  He has currently stopped eating normal food, however....I did get a scrambled eat down him earlier today.  He drinks Ensure Plus.  Remember Ensure Plus has an extra 100 calories in it,so it's worth the extra you pay for it.  We start week 5 of 6 weeks tomorrow and so far as long as it is in liquid form he can swallow it.  Interestingly enough sometimes liquid can be too thin and so we add something called "Thicken Up" to it so it's easier to swallow.  If you have an email or an iphone I would be happy to send you pictures of some of the things that have been so helpful. Here is my work email, you can use so your information can be kept private  clambert @nelsonhr.com.  I'm a Regional Recruiter in the San Francisco Bay area.  If you email me I will respond and send all my contact information in case you ever need anyone to just chat with.  Sometimes it feels good to chat with someone that understands what you're going through.

    Honestly the most helpful medication we got was the "magic mouthwash WITH lidocaine".  It numbs his mouth for 2 hours when he has sores, but he hasn't had any lately.  The first 'magic mouthwash" did not have the lidocaine and it wasn't helpful at all.  Also..."Silver Sulfadiazine"  has worked fabulously for his neck.  We started with Aqua Phor, but it was too greasy.  Phrannie said it would be but since the Dr. said to use it we did.  However the Chemo Doctor suggested this and Alan does not have any dry skin or flaking from the radiation.

    Hope this up coming week is kind to you.  Stay strong and positive!

    Christine