My best friend has recently been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the base of his tongue an

Skiffin16 said:

Welcome
Hello you, and welcome to the forum.....

I had STGIII SCC HPV+ Tonsil Cancer, sixteen weeks chemo, seven of those concurrent with radiation.

If the MD's recommend the PEG, I'd go with it. I didn't have one, but that's because my MD's didn't feel I would need it, in my case that worked...90%+ on this forum have had one and highly recommend them.

Next, I would strongly recommend your friend re-thinking about going to the first session alone.... afterwards if he feels he can handle it, great.

My wife went with me during most chemo sessions, especially the bigger three dose chemo sessions. During concurrent, I drove myself for a few as I knew my capabilities by then.

Here is a link to the SuperThread, It's a compilation of very useful information and links, especially for newbies.

SuperThread

Lastly, it's a very doable regime', not easy by any means, but doable given the right positive attitude and a strong care giver base.

Thoughts and Prayers,
John

Hondo said:

Hi Aggie

He might be able to handle the radiation by himself but not the chemo. At some point he will need to understand that he will need a support group of friends and family through out his complete treatment. I agree in getting the PEG tube in now as he will be in a lot of pain trying to eat or swallow anything once in treatment for a few weeks.

What ever you do please don’t let him try driving after taking the chemo, you or someone needs to be there with him. He has no idea what he is in for, so please help him.

PS: Welcome to CSN and thanks for being a caregiver
Hondo

sweetblood22 said:

Hi there aggiemom
It really is sort of an individual thing about whether you can work through treatment or drive yourself to an from treatment. I couldn't, and all I had was radiation. For one thing, they had me taking benedryl, which makes me about comatose. Then, the radiation also can make you exhausted. Can also make you extremely nauseasted. Despite the anti-nausea meds, I would end up vomiting on the way home, especially thursdsay-friday, and by the last week, I was really sick. Plus, I was on 75 mcgs of fentanyl. (fentanyl is something like 80-100x more potent than morphine.) So, driving, was not a plan. I never would have made it home. I would come home from radiation, sometimes nodding off in the car, and then I would come home and pass out for 2-5 hrs. Sometimes that was the only sleep I would get.

Chemo and radiation, and /or the combo of the two will effect everyone differently. You can find out the bulk of the side effects that most of us have endured, and make plans in case they should occur. So maybe your friend can drive, but you guys may want to make arrangements if your friend cannot.

Wishing your friend only the best.

sweet

rush1958 said:

BOT and two lymph nodes
Aggiemom2011,

That was me. I had SCC in the BOT and 2 lymph nodes involved and started treatment in April 2010.

I had surgery to remove my lymph nodes. That was followed by chemo and radiation about four weeks later. I finished on June 23, 2010.

Just remember that everyone is different. Many people suffer from the mouth sores, sore throat and trouble swallowing. None of those things ever happened to me. I had a feeding tube put in and never had to use it. But that was me.

I never really had much pain to speak of. I was prescribed a number of pain killers, but didn't use them.

Most people seem to have pretty good luck with the host of anti-nausea drugs available to combat chemo side effects. Unfortunately they didn't seem to help me much. Getting a handle on controlling the nausea was my biggest struggle for several weeks. Oh well....my sense of taste was lost for a couple of months and I didn't want to eat anyway.

I drove myself to radiation treatment everyday. My wife took me to chemo sessions, but they gave me something that made me groggy.

Good luck on your friend's journey. Head and Neck Cancer treatment is tough on everyone - it's just rougher on some than others.

Rush

Jimbo55 said:

Welcome Aggie
I also was BOT with some lymph nodes along for the ride. Treatment consisted of 7 weeks of chemo and rads. Finished up in Aug of last year.

If the Doc's think he should get the feeding tube beforehand, then feeding tube it is. It may become his best friend. My Doc didn't think I would need the feeding tube, so we didn't get one put in. Turns out he was right, though if treatment had lasted much longer, I probably would have needed it. Better safe than sorry.

Same as the others, I could have driven myself to most of the rad treatments especially in the beginning. Towards the end of the 7 weeks, I didn't really feel like it. The first chemo for me was not much of a problem, but the final 2 treatments did knock me down a fair bit. We always took a taxi to treatment, which was easy and simple. Not as extravagant as it sounds, as taxis here are very inexpensive and plentiful. Much easier to let someone else do the driving.

As John recommended, check out all the info on the 'Superthread'.

One thing I would add: Encourage your friend to try and stay active. Studies have shown that patients who maintain a moderate level of exercise: May respond better to treatment and may have less severe side effects. It also helps to combat the fatigue which will surely set in. Moderate exercise may be as simple as a 20 minute walk each day. Nothing too strenuous. Cheers.

Jimbo

Jimbo55 said:

Welcome Aggie
I also was BOT with some lymph nodes along for the ride. Treatment consisted of 7 weeks of chemo and rads. Finished up in Aug of last year.

If the Doc's think he should get the feeding tube beforehand, then feeding tube it is. It may become his best friend. My Doc didn't think I would need the feeding tube, so we didn't get one put in. Turns out he was right, though if treatment had lasted much longer, I probably would have needed it. Better safe than sorry.

Same as the others, I could have driven myself to most of the rad treatments especially in the beginning. Towards the end of the 7 weeks, I didn't really feel like it. The first chemo for me was not much of a problem, but the final 2 treatments did knock me down a fair bit. We always took a taxi to treatment, which was easy and simple. Not as extravagant as it sounds, as taxis here are very inexpensive and plentiful. Much easier to let someone else do the driving.

As John recommended, check out all the info on the 'Superthread'.

One thing I would add: Encourage your friend to try and stay active. Studies have shown that patients who maintain a moderate level of exercise: May respond better to treatment and may have less severe side effects. It also helps to combat the fatigue which will surely set in. Moderate exercise may be as simple as a 20 minute walk each day. Nothing too strenuous. Cheers.

Jimbo