falling apart, stage 4/ aggressive treatment radiation and chemo for 6 weeks

connieprice1

Hi Betty,    Sorry to hear

Hi Betty,    Sorry to hear the bad news but your husband can overcome this. Head & neck cancer is usually stage IV before it is detected so although it sounds bad it can be cured. My wife, Connie was diagnosed with Base of Tongue cancer Stage IV with 2 lymph nodes involved. We were hoping for surgery so the cancer would be gone the sooner the better. Connie's surgeon told us her tumors were too large and that she wanted to start with 9 weeks of induction chemo followed by 35 treatments of radiation. We were devastated, the cancer is in-operable, this is not looking good. Connie started with chemo the day after Thanksgiving and after her first treatment she received a dramatic response and the 2 swollen lymph nodes were no longer visible within one week. They were the size of walnuts and after one week her neck was back to normal. After chemotherapy was finished there was "no cancer detected". Even though there was no cancer detected she still did the 35 treatments of radiation as a precaution. Now radiation is rough on the body and appetite so it is imperative that your husband gain as much weight as possible before radiation treatments. My wife received a peg tube which we were both against at first but it can be a lifesaver if and when your husband loses his desire to eat. Connie had her peg tube for 13 months and even after she started eating orally again we used it to supplement her diet so she could get all the nutrients she needed. During & after radiation food is medicine! I realize you are scared and fully understand why but you will be his #1 caregiver and you need to be positive. We had so many questions when Connie started chemotherapy and a nurse at her first treatment gave us the best advise we received, she told us to take everthing "One day at a time". The last bit of advice I can give you is to make sure he goes to the best hospital with the best doctors that are cancer specialists. Connie went to MD Anderson in Houston, Tx. and it is the best hospital in the world. We really got lucky getting in there but there are other good hospitals just check out your state and try to get your husband in the best cancer treatment hospital in your state if possible.                      Wishing you both the Best, Homer & Connie