Newly diagnosed and pretty scared about treatments - Female, 45 and Praying

geneviasue

Marynb said:

Hair loss
Hi genevia,

I had the same treatment and had no hair loss at all. My hair actually got thicker and wavier. I have no idea why some lose hair and some don't. I used baby shampoo and Infusium 23. I did not blow dry my hair and used a wide tooth comb. I was very gentle with my hair andate a lot of protein. I washed my hair with water that was as cold as I could stand. I was lucky. Honestly, except for the low white blood counts, i didn't have any side effects from the chemo.

Hair loss
Thanks Mary..that helps to know

mp327

law522 said:

Newly diagnosed and VERY scared too--
Hi Genevia,
I am so sorry you have to be here. but you did find the best place for information on the internet. I found this board a few days after I was diagnosed and the posts/comments from members that have been there is invaluable to me as i prepare for my Journey. The advice and information is the best I have found anywhere. (who better to get it from than those that have been through it or are going through it)

I have my list of "must have" items ready to shop for to help during the healing process which looks like is the worse AFTER the treatment has ended. I also have a list of things I will need to protect my house if i get the messies like some have mentioned and my list of foods just in case i get hungry but honestly, since diagnosed I have lost weight as I am a MESS and have no appetite. Like a lot of people here, one day I was perfectly healthy going in for routine surgery and the next day my world is shattered. (On a positive note, I remember one of the first posts to me on here and it reassured me that if you are going to get cancer, this is the one that is highly curable)

I am going to try and work 5 hours a day in the am during the treatment and then take off the 2 to 4 weeks after depending on how I feel.

I had "hemmy" surgery on Oct 3rd and was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on Oct 9th.

I have also found from reading the posts that everyone reacts different to the treatment.

I healed very quickly from the Hemmy surgery, so I am praying that it will be the same with this treatment.

My main concern is how they want to treat me.
my cancer was 2cm and well defined they classified me as T1 N0 M0
so far they have only given me a CT scan and NOT a PET scan.
the surgeon is suggesting just RAD on the area they removed the hemmy
with chemo and NO Rad on my nodes

I go to see the Chemo Dr today.
This is the last person I need to meet in my team

Do they have a treatment date for you to start?
I was trying to figure out when i am going to feel the worse and looks like my timing sucks and it will be over the Holdidays
I am not sure if postponing treatment for a few weeks would make a difference or not

I will be back tonight and let ya know what Dr has to say

XO Linda

Hi Linda--
As much as you do not want to be going through treatment over the holidays, I would think long and hard about delaying it. I have learned in my 4+ years of talking to people with this cancer that some peoples' can be more agressive than others. I am just speaking about what I, myself, would do, but I would not put it off. I don't know if a few weeks would make a difference or not, but I would not be willing to take any chances. Just my opinion.

chrisfromny

geneviasue said:

Hair Loss
I know everyone is different but wondering about hair loss. Did each of you or the person you care for lose their hair on the treatment I've listed above (MIT in office with 96 hours 5FU, at week 1 and week 5 or 6).

Hair Loss
Hi Genevia,

My mom's hair thinned...but it was only noticeable because there's be some hair on her brush when she brushed her hair...and we'd find it in the bottom of the tub after she showered. She says she can also tell when she runs her hands through her hair. That said, no one would ever know looking at her. She definitely still has a full head of hair! Her eyebrows are already growing again like crazy...so it doesn't take long after your treatment ends for hair to start growing again...at least in our case.

Hope that helps!
Chris

mxperry220

geneviasue said:

Thanks!!
Chris,
So funny to see your response here. I had clicked on your posts (which are awesome by the way) and was going to reply to one of them when I saw your reply. I appreciate the Biotene. I'll get some today..I've seen it in stores.

I've been very positive and feel I have dealt with this pretty well considering, well, that it's cancer. I'm so thankful that the cure rate is so high. I want to go to heaven, just not anytime soon..I still have work to do here.

I'll be praying for you and your mom. She is blessed to have you so close to her and I know that this has to be taking on toll on you too. My oldest son is an EMT and he understands this kind of stuff well. I've shielded my sons from all this information because I want them to go about life as normal. My husband and I will handle everything up until it gets to a point they need to know. Of course, that's what I'm telling myself. They have probably already done their research and likely more as much as I do. sigh...

I think I'll post my story too because I think it's important for people to understand that the "doctor" process is a nightmare. I've had 4 "intelligent fingers" examine me and each one said the same thing. I've had a CT Scan then a PET scan..why even do the CT if you're going to do a PET. I've had a problem with my doctors knowing what the other one is doing. My chemo was suppose to start on Oct 22nd but I hadn't even met with the radiologist yet so it was delayed a week. I did meet with him on the 22nd (late afternoon) and did all the set up stuff. I have the "X's" to prove it..haha. I was also told I would get 3 small blue tattoo'd dots in my pelvis area so that the radiation is perfectly aligned each time.

Chris, I'm sending nothing but great thoughts and prayers toward you and your mom. Thanks for posting great information and know that you are blessing..to your mom and to us!!

GiGi

Tests
I had CT, PET, and MRI scans before treatment. The doctors said all these tests were necessary to make certain the radiation oncologist targeted the exact area that needed radiation.
Mike

StruTanToot

geneviasue said:

Amazing Responses Thanks Everyone
Thanks for the wonderful responses with items. So, I went shopping today and added to my stash of supplies. I got Biotene rinse, toothpaste, spray and gel, Ensure, small plastic trash cans, Aquaphor, bed pad with vinyl backing, a shower sprayer nozzle thingy, a pitcher for pouring water over myself during BM or Pee, pill containers, Imodium and I'm sure other things I've forgotten about.
Everyone is so inspiring. "This is do-able", "you can do this", "it's tough but you will make it". Those comments mean the world to me. God bless you all!!

I finished treatment almost
I finished treatment almost three weeks ago, and I know YOU CAN DO IT! I think I did pretty well during treatment. I drove myself to radiation everyday, except for the last two days. I also worked pretty much full-time during treatment...I work from home though and don't think I could have continued working full time if I had to go into an office.

Also, there was a "quiet room" where I was treated (Duke Cancer Center). I went in that room before radiation almost everyday. I prayed and meditated. I claimed healing and victory over cancer. I relaxed and counted my many blessings. The point is, I think all these things helped me a lot too.

As these wonderful people tell you, you will get through it. The people on this site will hold you up and support you all the way through. Let us know how you're doing because we are thinking about you more than you might realize.

Stay strong!

sandysp

geneviasue said:

I hate cancer!!
Hi MP,
Thanks for your comments. This site is great and the ppl on it are amazing. Treatments start Mon, Oct 29, 2012. I appreciate your thoughts on my mom. I will lean on her when I get to that point. I would want to do it for my children and she is no different. Just trying to protect her I suppose. I have two grown sons too one of which is an EMT so he understands a great dealt about this process.
I've never looked so forward to looking back on anything. My radiologist did say this cancer is totally treatable. He also said that in the end that I would be considered cured vs in remission.
I'm 45 and in pretty good shape. I could lose a few lbs but I'm average I suppose. I can't imagine going through as an elderly person or someone who doesn't have family/friends nearby. I also can't imagine facing cancer without the assurance from the Lord that "my plans are to prosper you not harm you" Jeremiah 29:11.
I'm blessed to have found this site and now connected to an outlet and understanding fellow AC'ers.

You sound good
You are doing all the right things. I am in Pelvic Rehabilitation Therapy and my Physical Therapist advised me for the best hydration to drink Coconut Water. It is very low in sugar and very high in potassium. I now buy it by the case at Costco. She said you get more from it than even a banana which can cause excess mucus unless they are very ripe. You will enjoy ice cream or yoghurt so if you have enough room in your freezer, I would stock up on that.

I lost just the right amount of weight to make me look like a hairless hottie! (Not totally hairless). My hair grew back thick and curly. I love it. My nutritionist was a huge fan of Carnation Instant Breakfast and Ensure or Boost. In the worst part of the treatment I just drank about one can of Ensure a day for a few days but it was enough. I have put most of the weight back on that I lost mostly because I still crave the frozen yoghurt and never go a day without it now.

Keep us posted on how you are doing. I also used and still use Aquaphor. It is a great product and I think it is most preferred by all of the major cancer hospitals, or at least that is my impression. I did not do a lot of experimentation. My burns were intense since I had a lot of radiation but I have no scarring or discoloration. Even the Radiologist is impressed. I think it is because there was such a good community of prayer around me. I recommend that you talk about your cancer as much as possible. You will allow people to support you that way.
All the best,
Sandy

geneviasue

StruTanToot said:

I finished treatment almost
I finished treatment almost three weeks ago, and I know YOU CAN DO IT! I think I did pretty well during treatment. I drove myself to radiation everyday, except for the last two days. I also worked pretty much full-time during treatment...I work from home though and don't think I could have continued working full time if I had to go into an office.

Also, there was a "quiet room" where I was treated (Duke Cancer Center). I went in that room before radiation almost everyday. I prayed and meditated. I claimed healing and victory over cancer. I relaxed and counted my many blessings. The point is, I think all these things helped me a lot too.

As these wonderful people tell you, you will get through it. The people on this site will hold you up and support you all the way through. Let us know how you're doing because we are thinking about you more than you might realize.

Stay strong!

Thanks again
Thanks Chris and Stru for your information. I'm from the Nashville TN area and having my treatmetents with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. Prayer is very important to me as well and Im grateful for the strength the Lord is giving to me so abuntantly right now.

I so appreciate everyone on this site. The support is amazing..I am blessed to have found it.

GiGi

mp327

geneviasue said:

Thanks again
Thanks Chris and Stru for your information. I'm from the Nashville TN area and having my treatmetents with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. Prayer is very important to me as well and Im grateful for the strength the Lord is giving to me so abuntantly right now.

I so appreciate everyone on this site. The support is amazing..I am blessed to have found it.

GiGi

GiGi
It sounds like you will be in very good hands. I will be traveling through Nashville on Nov. 14th. and will say a prayer for you as I sit in traffic on I-24! I promise to pray for you every other day too! You will get through this!