Radiation has Started

depressed63
depressed63 Member Posts: 61 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi everyone, My husbands radiation has finally started. Two treatments and 32 more to go. Once a week chemo with it. The 4th and hopefully the final kind of chemo (Carboplatin). He had a couple of rough rounds and needed IV's at home with the Cisplatin, Platinol, F5U and the Neulasta shots. Just when he started to feel better and eat more the radiation has started. He will get the stomach peg put in this Tuesday. I'm hoping they will be able to tell me if his Esophagus is ok since he has GERD really bad. The printout the Radiologist gave us said one of the effects is Esophagitis - inflammation of the Esophagus. His neck is red like a mild sunburn after only 2 treatments. They told us what to expect and they were upfront and we appreciated that. I have learned so much already from this forum. I am so blessed to have found a great group of people who have already been through this. Your faith, strength, knowledge, and humor keep going. There was a post about smoking. Me and my husband both quit together when we found out about his throat cancer. We have not had one since May 11th. It was rough but it gets easier each day. Anytime I have feel the urge to want one, I open my cell phone and look at the picture of my husband wearing his radiation mask. It is the scariest thing I have ever seen and it looks like it came right out of a horror movie. He wants to keep it when this is all over with. I'm hoping he changes his mind but I'll understand if he still wants to.

Donna in Ohio

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #2
    One at a Time
    I had the same chemos for induction and rads as your hubby. The carboplatin was cake after the others. Congrats to you both for quitting smoking - I quit nine years ago, and remember how hard it was. But I have to say I couldn't imagine smoking during induction chemo - with mouth sores - argh. Surprised he's got a little burn going on after two days - hope it doesn't get bad - smother him in goo.

    I agree - pic of radiation mask has got to be a good smoking cessation aid. Glad it's effective.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Awesome
    On the giving up smokes.....

    First, where in Ohio, LOL...born in Mansfield, grew up in Mount Vernon....living in Florida.

    Amyways, back to business....I had similar diagnosis, and treatment, Carboplatin isn't that bad compared to what he's had... I also had the nine (three weeks) sessions of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. Then concurrent seven weeks of weekly Carboplatin, 35 daily Amifostine injections in the tummy and 35 daily rads...with the treaded mask.... (I didn't keep it either, LOL).

    I'm over two years post treatment (STGIII SCC HPV Tonsil Cancer and one lymphnode), no PEG, all scans and PET's have been NED.

    He sounds like he's doing well, and your getting into my GroundHog's Day..same thing day after day after day.....

    My neck turned really dark, most skin peeled off, and dried out..but it wasn't nearly as bad as some have had. You can't even tell anything happened now other than a little hair in the back never fully grew back at the hairline.

    Welcome to this forum, great people here and a lot of good experience and information.

    Thoughts and Prayers...
    John
  • depressed63
    depressed63 Member Posts: 61 Member
    #4
    Skiffin16 said:

    Awesome
    On the giving up smokes.....

    First, where in Ohio, LOL...born in Mansfield, grew up in Mount Vernon....living in Florida.

    Amyways, back to business....I had similar diagnosis, and treatment, Carboplatin isn't that bad compared to what he's had... I also had the nine (three weeks) sessions of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. Then concurrent seven weeks of weekly Carboplatin, 35 daily Amifostine injections in the tummy and 35 daily rads...with the treaded mask.... (I didn't keep it either, LOL).

    I'm over two years post treatment (STGIII SCC HPV Tonsil Cancer and one lymphnode), no PEG, all scans and PET's have been NED.

    He sounds like he's doing well, and your getting into my GroundHog's Day..same thing day after day after day.....

    My neck turned really dark, most skin peeled off, and dried out..but it wasn't nearly as bad as some have had. You can't even tell anything happened now other than a little hair in the back never fully grew back at the hairline.

    Welcome to this forum, great people here and a lot of good experience and information.

    Thoughts and Prayers...
    John

    Thanks John
    Your treatment and my husbands treatment sounds almost identical. The chemo is the same and the amount of radiation is the same. I live about 30 min from Dayton, Ohio (Brookville, OH).

    Donna
  • scottishbrenda
    scottishbrenda Member Posts: 8
    #5
    burns on throat
    hello donna

    my husband Jim had 37 treatments after his laryngectomy for throat cancer. The first 4 weeks were ok, bearable, but then his skin broke out and the burns were quite bad. We treated it with a wonderful dressing for burns which gave him great relief. Its hard I know and I still cant believe we got through it but hey we did. Try not to get depressed save your energy as there will be kinda tough times ahead after the radiation., As they say ' its the gift that just keeps giving' Jim was extremely tired and eating was not good for about 2 months after the last treatment. After that things really improved and we are now 16 months post op. We know we are not out of the woods that ' worry cloud' is always hovering, but if we thought about it all the time we would just sit at home and vegitate. We do something every day and just hope to god that cancer has picked the wrong man. Keep your chin up it will get better, honestly.
    Brenda from Scotland
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #6
    Hi Donna
    I won't start my radiation until some time in Nov, still have 1 more round of cisplatin, taxatore, and of course my favorite beastie the 5FU pump. I have a mask questions; does it bother your husband to have it on, does he take anything for anxiety prior to treatment. I downloaded some great tunes to listen too, and hoping the rad place will play them for me.



    Linda
    Arizona
  • Husker Fan
    Husker Fan Member Posts: 65
    #7
    osmotar said:

    Hi Donna
    I won't start my radiation until some time in Nov, still have 1 more round of cisplatin, taxatore, and of course my favorite beastie the 5FU pump. I have a mask questions; does it bother your husband to have it on, does he take anything for anxiety prior to treatment. I downloaded some great tunes to listen too, and hoping the rad place will play them for me.



    Linda
    Arizona

    The Mask...
    Linda,

    I just had my mask made and will start radiation day after tomorrow. I have read a lot about it giving people anxiety; but while I was laying there wondering what was going to happen next, I just thought about how lucky I was to have such technology available. Giving me the needed radiation in the exact spot versus all over me... rifle shot VS the shotgun approach.

    I may change my tune once I start radiation, but it didn't seem to bother me for the 20-25 mins I had it on when it was made.

    Just my 2 cents worth, hang in there.

    David
  • Tanager75
    Tanager75 Member Posts: 89 Member
    #8
    Day at a time (rads and cigs)
    My prayers are with you 63 and Fan.

    Husker Fan, just to give you an idea of how bad it got I had no desire to even watch the games!!! I only had anxiety on the days I was throwing up. I never had to get sick while locked in and the folks were great at assuring me they would get me out in a hurry if needed. Xanax helped too. Life is much better 3 seasons later.

    Peace,

    mark
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #9
    Husker Fan said:

    The Mask...
    Linda,

    I just had my mask made and will start radiation day after tomorrow. I have read a lot about it giving people anxiety; but while I was laying there wondering what was going to happen next, I just thought about how lucky I was to have such technology available. Giving me the needed radiation in the exact spot versus all over me... rifle shot VS the shotgun approach.

    I may change my tune once I start radiation, but it didn't seem to bother me for the 20-25 mins I had it on when it was made.

    Just my 2 cents worth, hang in there.

    David

    Thanks Dave
    I guess I'll have to wait till I get there...keep us posted on your rad treatments

    Linda
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #10
    Tanager75 said:

    Day at a time (rads and cigs)
    My prayers are with you 63 and Fan.

    Husker Fan, just to give you an idea of how bad it got I had no desire to even watch the games!!! I only had anxiety on the days I was throwing up. I never had to get sick while locked in and the folks were great at assuring me they would get me out in a hurry if needed. Xanax helped too. Life is much better 3 seasons later.

    Peace,

    mark

    OH Wait
    I thought Husker had something to do with corn... NOT!!! in this Azrizona house it's Joe PA all the way, maybe I should change my name to Nittany LIONess :p)

    Linda
    Arizona by way of PA
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #11
    osmotar said:

    OH Wait
    I thought Husker had something to do with corn... NOT!!! in this Azrizona house it's Joe PA all the way, maybe I should change my name to Nittany LIONess :p)

    Linda
    Arizona by way of PA

    Yeah baby!
    GO PENN STATE!!!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    osmotar said:

    Hi Donna
    I won't start my radiation until some time in Nov, still have 1 more round of cisplatin, taxatore, and of course my favorite beastie the 5FU pump. I have a mask questions; does it bother your husband to have it on, does he take anything for anxiety prior to treatment. I downloaded some great tunes to listen too, and hoping the rad place will play them for me.



    Linda
    Arizona

    Xanax
    Linda, I needed Xanax the first few days, but by the second week I didn't need them any longer. I was used to the routine.....

    Music is good, I'd know by the end of 3 - 4 songs I was done for the day.

    Best,
    John

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