Less is a Good Thing!
I met with my MO today. She's pretty cool and really pretty too (so is my Nurse Practitioner Manager) 
We spoke about the treatment and I'll be getting a hearing test next week. Hearing loss, if it happens, occurs after several treatments so we'll have a baseline to compare with as the weeks go by. I have all the prescriptions I'll need to last through treatment and she's very confident of a cure.
The BEST part is, I found out today that I'm only getting 30 rads and 6 chemos! I thought is was 35 and 7. I've already done 2 rads so I have 28 to go. Nothing unusual for the first two treatments other than a little redness on the left side on my neck. I've been slathering Special Care Cream on for the last two weeks. It was what my RO recommended. I have sensitive skin so hopefully I can control the burning and peeling. The Team is all over everything so I'm in good hands as side effects arise.
It was funny... We talked about side effects of the chemo and I asked about the actual infusion. I'll be getting hydrated and loaded up with anti nausea meds. She said... "You're going to feel GREAT the day of chemo". "Really?" I said. She said "Oh yeah...We're going to dope you up so you'll be really happy" Unfortunately, I'll crash the next day 
Reminds me of my partying days ~lol~
It's good to be home. The boy was really happy to see us. Marcia is calling him a male tramp because he slept with our house/cat sitter and was quite affectionate from what she said ~lol~ Back to Baltimore Sunday evening and off to the battlefield Monday morning.
"T"
Comments
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It certainly does sound like you're in good hands
and lucky you....pretty as well
. They give ya benedryl during chemo....that's where ya get the "high"....I remember the first time I walked into the chemo room....I thought I was going to meet some pretty cool people, since we have all day to get to know each other....two hours later everybody's asleep....LOL. Just take your anti-nausea meds and you'll probably be alright. Oh....and if ya can, sit close to the bathroom....I was SO sleepy, but had to pee every 10 minutes with all that lovely hydration. Congrats on the less is better event! You betcha 30 rads are better than 35....and I would have been doing a jig if I'd been offered one less chemo.
p
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Hi fishmanpa
She's right I did not have any problems with the chemo, like a good boy I took all the stuff to make me feel good while taking it. On the down side I had to have someone there with me to drive me home and help me inside to the bed room where I slept unto the next day. Now the radiation is another story, glad to hear you will only get 30 treatment as the last 5 are killers.
Take care and keep your focus ahead
Hondo
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Insurance?
The pre-audiogram may have more to do with insurance than anything. Most insurance won't pay for hearing aids due to the "normal aging process." So you might have to "prove" a medical reason for the hearing loss. Just a thought. Rick.
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"T"
You see, there was a reason for all that partying in the old days, to prepare you for the hangover from chemo. Sounds like your well underway with a trustfull team that you will never forget. After my radiation team and I parted ways exactly 3 years ago in two weeks, I stopped by to visit them about 8 months ago and they still remembered me. Some forgot my name but they all remembered me as the chip man. I use to take them potatoe chips and pretzels from my home town. Just a small bribe so they would be gentle with the radiation treatments. After all I am a Teamster and since we have a reputation for bribery I figured what the hell, I may as well live up to the reputation.
You hang in there, 30 treatments really does go fast. Think positive and make fun with it, after all they have a tough job zapping people with radiation all day so when you can joke with them and try to have fun, it goes along way in getting you through it.
Enjoy your weekend............you deserve it
Jeff
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Wow, less radsDuggie88 said:"T"
You see, there was a reason for all that partying in the old days, to prepare you for the hangover from chemo. Sounds like your well underway with a trustfull team that you will never forget. After my radiation team and I parted ways exactly 3 years ago in two weeks, I stopped by to visit them about 8 months ago and they still remembered me. Some forgot my name but they all remembered me as the chip man. I use to take them potatoe chips and pretzels from my home town. Just a small bribe so they would be gentle with the radiation treatments. After all I am a Teamster and since we have a reputation for bribery I figured what the hell, I may as well live up to the reputation.
You hang in there, 30 treatments really does go fast. Think positive and make fun with it, after all they have a tough job zapping people with radiation all day so when you can joke with them and try to have fun, it goes along way in getting you through it.
Enjoy your weekend............you deserve it
Jeff
Is always awesome news! Honestly at 30 rads I was feeling pretty tired and of course my throat was sore but it was treatments 31-35 that really pushed me over the edge. So happy for you.
Now about the pretty doctor, that'll sure make those daily visits much easier :-)
If more of you men had pretty doctors maybe you would be better patients and go for regular check ups :-)
Anyway, enjoy your weekend and rest up for Monday
Billie0 -
Wow, "T"CivilMatt said:good things
T,
I am glad to hear it all went well. It sound like you have a good team (doctors, nurses, techs and Marcia). Keep them informed on everything you are feeling, stay hydrated and good luck.
Matt
You completed 5 rads and a chemo without even knowing it. Maybe they've slipped in those good drugs already.
Hoping this will be a relatively smooth ride for you all the way. We'll be foloowing in your footsteps shortly.
Luv,
Wolfen
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Insurance...ToBeGolden said:Insurance?
The pre-audiogram may have more to do with insurance than anything. Most insurance won't pay for hearing aids due to the "normal aging process." So you might have to "prove" a medical reason for the hearing loss. Just a thought. Rick.
Hi Rick,
You know.... I didn't think of that BUT in a way it is. The reason for the hearing test is to monitor any hearing loss as I'm a musician. My Team is keeping the fact that I sing and play in thier plans to minimize side effects that may jeopardize my voice and hearing. My MO will do a baseline test next week and another a couple weeks in. I may not experience any issues at all but if I do, her thinking is a 20 -25% loss is acceptable to continue on Cisplatin. If I suffer more than that, we'll switch to Carboplatin for the remaining treatments.
If indeed, the treatment causes enough of a loss to require a hearing aids, I'll have documented information for the insurance company. I'm thinking at worst, I'll have to have a hearing aid or invest in an in-ear monitoring system for when I perform.
btw...glad to hear you're doing better!
"T"0 -
Indeed!NJShore said:A good week!
Nice to hear you need less treatment than originally thought! And glad to hear that the week might have started out a bit rough, but you are set now, and going to sail through smoothly. You are in our thoughts and prayers!
Kari
Hi Kari,
Yeah, it was a bit of a stressful start but as Marcia says, God is looking after us. She was all over my case about my attitude and she was right. By the time we arrived at JH on Wednesday, I was just short of a meltdown but everything worked out and then some. I've learned that God answers prayer three ways... "No", "No, not yet" and "Yes, and here's a whole lot more you didn't ask for".
You hang in there too! You've experienced enough to know how to handle things
"T"0 -
Easy on the eyesBillie67 said:Wow, less rads
Is always awesome news! Honestly at 30 rads I was feeling pretty tired and of course my throat was sore but it was treatments 31-35 that really pushed me over the edge. So happy for you.
Now about the pretty doctor, that'll sure make those daily visits much easier :-)
If more of you men had pretty doctors maybe you would be better patients and go for regular check ups :-)
Anyway, enjoy your weekend and rest up for Monday
Billie
Hi Billie,
From hanging on the boards I know about those last 5 treatments. Everyone who did 35 said they were shot after 30 and those last 5 were brutal so I'm pretty happy about not having to do endure them. My only concern is the burn from the rads on my neck. It was pretty red last night and I could feel that sunburn feeling... and that was only two treatments. I'm going to have to really take care of that. In addition to the cream, we're going to treat it with pure aloe plant. Marcia used it throughout her life for sunburn. She said she will take pieces of the leave, slice them very thin and place it on my neck.
As far as pretty doctors? What can I say? Like you said ""you men" ~lol~ After my appointment with Dr. Chung. Marcia was first to comment "Papi, she's very pretty". I concurred...perhaps a little too enthusiastically ~lol~ Fortunately Marcia is not the jealous type Sadly, I only see her every two weeks or if I encounter any issues.
It really is nice to be home. As comfortable as the beds and accomodations are at Hope Lodge, it was so nice to be in my own bed at home. I slept hard last night and feel great this morning.
"T"0 -
Less is More
As you know I talked my RO into 30 (60 Grey) RADs instead of 35 (70 Grey). I used the argument that there are presently trials going on utilizing 50 Grey (25 sessions) for HPV+ patients trying to find the minimum effective dose.
Both he and my MO thinks that 30 RADs is the reason that my throat is healing up as fast as it is (they almost exclusively do 70 Grey-35). I'm happy for you that everything is falling in place and that you have Marcia there to keep you straight.
J.
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Greysjcortney said:Less is More
As you know I talked my RO into 30 (60 Grey) RADs instead of 35 (70 Grey). I used the argument that there are presently trials going on utilizing 50 Grey (25 sessions) for HPV+ patients trying to find the minimum effective dose.
Both he and my MO thinks that 30 RADs is the reason that my throat is healing up as fast as it is (they almost exclusively do 70 Grey-35). I'm happy for you that everything is falling in place and that you have Marcia there to keep you straight.
J.
Hi Joe,
I just recently got a grip on greys and spoke to my RO about it on Thursday. I'm getting 70 on the left side and 54 on the right and various amounts elswhere in my head and neck area less than 70. He did mention the trials but until they prove conclusively, the current prescription applies to achieve the optimum results.
I'm sure most would agree, the treatment itself is a rather bizarre experience. Being held down by the mask is weird enough but I find the sound the machine makes kind of creepy. I feel like I'm in an alien ship being subjected to some experiment. The sound of the aperatures opening and closing as it rotates counter-clockwise around my head is a little unnerving to say the least but fortunately, I don't need any meds to deal with it. The key for me is Afrin so I can breath clearly and to make sure I clear my throat prior. As the treatment progresses, my docs said they could give me something to dry up any mucous that may present itself.
(knocking on wood here)... I just hope the remaining weeks go smoothly but I'm prepared for sinkholes
"T"PS... Ha! I just re-read my post and saw the unintentional correlation between "greys" and "alien ship".
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I kid you not!Duggie88 said:"T"
You see, there was a reason for all that partying in the old days, to prepare you for the hangover from chemo. Sounds like your well underway with a trustfull team that you will never forget. After my radiation team and I parted ways exactly 3 years ago in two weeks, I stopped by to visit them about 8 months ago and they still remembered me. Some forgot my name but they all remembered me as the chip man. I use to take them potatoe chips and pretzels from my home town. Just a small bribe so they would be gentle with the radiation treatments. After all I am a Teamster and since we have a reputation for bribery I figured what the hell, I may as well live up to the reputation.
You hang in there, 30 treatments really does go fast. Think positive and make fun with it, after all they have a tough job zapping people with radiation all day so when you can joke with them and try to have fun, it goes along way in getting you through it.
Enjoy your weekend............you deserve it
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I was talking to my best friend (we met in college) about the "old days". He's a couple of years older than I am. We're both experienceing health issues. We are in complete agreement that it sucks getting old! ~lol~ We partied in epic proportions back in the day. We joke that it's a miracle we survived some of our adventures and that our kids are normal! And that hangover? Ahhhh.... yes, there were many. Me and Uncle Jack used to hang out quite a bit during my touring days back in the 80's.
My rad tech team are awesome. I dubbed them "The Brady Bunch" because, I kid you not, their names are Greg and Marsha ~lol~
"T"0 -
what out for the sleepy juicefishmanpa said:Greys
Hi Joe,
I just recently got a grip on greys and spoke to my RO about it on Thursday. I'm getting 70 on the left side and 54 on the right and various amounts elswhere in my head and neck area less than 70. He did mention the trials but until they prove conclusively, the current prescription applies to achieve the optimum results.
I'm sure most would agree, the treatment itself is a rather bizarre experience. Being held down by the mask is weird enough but I find the sound the machine makes kind of creepy. I feel like I'm in an alien ship being subjected to some experiment. The sound of the aperatures opening and closing as it rotates counter-clockwise around my head is a little unnerving to say the least but fortunately, I don't need any meds to deal with it. The key for me is Afrin so I can breath clearly and to make sure I clear my throat prior. As the treatment progresses, my docs said they could give me something to dry up any mucous that may present itself.
(knocking on wood here)... I just hope the remaining weeks go smoothly but I'm prepared for sinkholes
"T"PS... Ha! I just re-read my post and saw the unintentional correlation between "greys" and "alien ship".
>> I'm getting 70 on the left side and 54 on the right and various amounts elswhere in my head and neck area less than 70. <<
Correct, the entire role of the physicist and the mapping and sim are to design a program for the machine to provide the unique amount of rad for each area in the field, trying to minimze what I call the "overspray", as the raditation can only be partially contained and there is rads that go beyond the field, even to the other side of the neck for example.
I am trying to get as close as I can to the Wizard behind the RO, just to try to better understand their rationale for the map they are creating for me. By far, the collateral damage caused by the concurrent IMRT-chemo regimen is the most worrisome part of my journey and the part where I expect to take on the most damange.
I have been somewhat blindsided by only two events thus far. One being "drugged up" during infusion. I, like many, were pretty much knocked out by the drugs to make us "feel more relaxed". Sleeping for nearly six hours is not my definition of being more relaxed. The second infusion cycle was like NO THANKS on the sleepy juice. I came prepared with my laptop and plenty of reading material and made a productive day of it as well as being totally upright for the fatigue battle that ensues. The first time I got knocked down and basically stayed down for a week fighting fatigue from an entirely avoidable disadvantaged position. Ay day of the week, I'll take on the fight standing up, looking you straight in the eye, toe to toe.
Starting cycle III of induction TPF and no sleepy juice for me. thank you very much. too much work to get done.
best
don
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T,
Your attitude is going to
T,
Your attitude is going to take right past your 28(probably 27 by now) treatments. You keep finding the silver lining inside every cloud. I think I told you if not someone else, the day I got chemo was always the best day, they would give me ativan and I slept the whole 3hr treatment, and so much anti nausea it was the only day I could eat and early on that's what I did, soooo eat on those days like you got the munchies, you'll need that for for what comes the next couple of days. Wish I could sugar coat it, but I can't. I can tell you its weird though when the nausea and effects of chemo wear off , its almost like you can oin point the moment. Like you feel sick self slide out and leave you feeling more relaxed, s strange but cool experience. Hope your ride continues to be normal like this and no more scary bumps like in Feb. Jeez
Take care Buddy praying for you,
Rachel0
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