Radiation treatment question

brigboo67
brigboo67 Member Posts: 24
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My mom is on Rad 18 Of 35. They told us today she needs a CT scan tomorrow to see if they need to narrow the radiation fields. I was wondering if this is standard practice? We are stressed as it is with moms cancer and dad passed away May 31st from cancer.

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Not Uncommon
    Actually, I think it's probably pretty pro-active....lessening the field would/could prevent possibly more damage to healthy cells.

    When I had daily rads for seven weeks, each Monday they would shoot X-Rays. I think mainly to make sure the mask still was fitting properly.

    But I did have a CT between the nine weeks of chemo and the seven weeks of concurrent chemo/rads...

    Also, I'm very sorry concerning your father, and your mother dealing with this and that loss.

    Best,
    John
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Not Uncommon
    Actually, I think it's probably pretty pro-active....lessening the field would/could prevent possibly more damage to healthy cells.

    When I had daily rads for seven weeks, each Monday they would shoot X-Rays. I think mainly to make sure the mask still was fitting properly.

    But I did have a CT between the nine weeks of chemo and the seven weeks of concurrent chemo/rads...

    Also, I'm very sorry concerning your father, and your mother dealing with this and that loss.

    Best,
    John

    Any weight loss?
    John is on the right track. It is not uncommon for them to have to make a new mask because weight loss has made the first mask fit incorrectly. Likewise resetting the radiation fields is a good practice as just a tumor shrinking might slightly make a difference. Nothing wrong with a little attention to detail and calibration. A CT scan is a little easier than a radiation session. Nothing to worry about there. Regards, Rick.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Treatment Questions

    During your treatment the doctor will order from time to time scans to see if the tumor is shrinking or staying the same side. This info helps him to better target what is working or to make adjustment on what is needed.

    Hope this helps
    Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #5
    I don't know if it's
    I don't know if it's standard practice or not, but it doesn't sound like a bad thing to me. Narrowing the radiation field would probably make for less damage to good tissue and less side effects. More concentration on targeting the bad stuff. Sounds like a good idea to me. I was unknown primary so I got a lot. All over. Not fun.

    I am sorry about your dad. Wishing you and mom well. Half way thru- keep checking them off.
  • zepfreak
    zepfreak Member Posts: 24
    #6
    good thing
    I'm not sure if it's a common practice, but the added attention shows your dr. is on top of your treatment. Also, as stated, it seems to me narrowing the field will prevent damage to healthy cells. Truly sorry about your dad, my prayers are with you in the future.
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #7
    Not me
    I never had any scans after chemo and radiation. My surgery was first and they did not think i had any cancer left. They were treating strays. I think its a really good idea what your doctor is doing. I had hard core radiation treatment now i have several problems from it. I hurt worse from radiation side effects than i ever did from cancer. Radiation killed the socket that holds my jaw in place now im trying to find someone that can fix it. Sorry for your problems hope they get better soon. God bless David
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
    Dav1965 said:

    Not me
    I never had any scans after chemo and radiation. My surgery was first and they did not think i had any cancer left. They were treating strays. I think its a really good idea what your doctor is doing. I had hard core radiation treatment now i have several problems from it. I hurt worse from radiation side effects than i ever did from cancer. Radiation killed the socket that holds my jaw in place now im trying to find someone that can fix it. Sorry for your problems hope they get better soon. God bless David

    zepfreak
    hafta ask. are you a big led zeppelin freak? Probably my favorite classic rock band. I think I have every album. :)
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    #9
    Same Here
    You certainly have had a lot to deal with lately, hope things start looking up for your and your family.

    I had a CT scan at roughly the same point in my treatment. They were able to see how the tumor was responding to treatment, and using that info they then zeroed in the radiation field to adjust for any changing conditions. I understood that it was standard practice where I was treated. Cheers

    Jimbo
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #10
    sweetblood22 said:

    zepfreak
    hafta ask. are you a big led zeppelin freak? Probably my favorite classic rock band. I think I have every album. :)

    I Know, Right, Sweet?
    Just seeing his name made me happy. Sounds like I'm not as devoted as you, but am a fan.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #11
    Pam M said:

    I Know, Right, Sweet?
    Just seeing his name made me happy. Sounds like I'm not as devoted as you, but am a fan.

    pam
    I can remember being very little, really little. In some kind of red convertable listening to Led Zeppelin on the 8 track in the car coming home late at night from my great grandparent's 5 story walk up that they had on 53 Market Street, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It's one of the earliest memories that I have. I was probably two or three. I think I cut my teeth on Led Zeppelin. :D
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    Dav1965 said:

    Not me
    I never had any scans after chemo and radiation. My surgery was first and they did not think i had any cancer left. They were treating strays. I think its a really good idea what your doctor is doing. I had hard core radiation treatment now i have several problems from it. I hurt worse from radiation side effects than i ever did from cancer. Radiation killed the socket that holds my jaw in place now im trying to find someone that can fix it. Sorry for your problems hope they get better soon. God bless David

    Scans After.... ~DAV1965
    So you are saying that you have never had any post treatment scans for H&N Cancer?

    My surgery was first and they did not think i had any cancer left.

    If it were me, and knowing what I know these days.....

    I'd at least talk to your MD's about a PET scan....., expensive but a very good tool in picking up various potential cancerous areas....

    John
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    #13
    sweetblood22 said:

    pam
    I can remember being very little, really little. In some kind of red convertable listening to Led Zeppelin on the 8 track in the car coming home late at night from my great grandparent's 5 story walk up that they had on 53 Market Street, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It's one of the earliest memories that I have. I was probably two or three. I think I cut my teeth on Led Zeppelin. :D

    Big Zeppelin Fan
    Sweet, Pam:

    I've been a big fan Of Zeppelin also. My friends and I would go to their concert every year in Chicago. Must have seen them 4 or 5 times, not sure exactly how many times, its a bit hazy...We might have been a little dazed and confused back then. Cheers

    Jimbo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #14
    Jimbo55 said:

    Big Zeppelin Fan
    Sweet, Pam:

    I've been a big fan Of Zeppelin also. My friends and I would go to their concert every year in Chicago. Must have seen them 4 or 5 times, not sure exactly how many times, its a bit hazy...We might have been a little dazed and confused back then. Cheers

    Jimbo

    zeppelin in concert
    i haveseen at least 150 bands in concert, but never them :( i was kinda too young. i have seen John Bonhams son play many times. I saw Jimmy Page with The Firm, but that would be about it.
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #15
    Skiffin16 said:

    Scans After.... ~DAV1965
    So you are saying that you have never had any post treatment scans for H&N Cancer?

    My surgery was first and they did not think i had any cancer left.

    If it were me, and knowing what I know these days.....

    I'd at least talk to your MD's about a PET scan....., expensive but a very good tool in picking up various potential cancerous areas....

    John

    Never a pet scan
    I have had some ct scans because i have had other cancer related surgeries. My jaw bone socket is deteriated from radiation. The only thing i ever get is chest x rays. I asked them for one but they say that if mine comes back it will be in the lungs. They have operated on my tongue several times trying to get it to work better and every time they x ray my lungs.

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