Question for someone who has been through this

waywest said:

Nancy
I agree. I guess I am particularly sensitive to comments about side effects since my husband was not one of the "lucky" ones and all the specialists have agreed that his damage is extensive and irreversible. That said, most will not experience this and I should have been a teensy bit less aggressive in my response.

W.

Possible Side Effects....
Hi Wendy, while I can understand your sensitivity to the subject. In all honesty, secondary cancer from radiation is only a possible side effect.

As far as I understand, and I'm in no way a professional....there is no absolutes that any of us will derive a secondary cancer, yes, some do and it's unfortunate. Even saying that, I can't think of anyone on here that has been confirmed as deriving a secondary cancer from the radiation received from their original treatment.

But at the same time, I think the technology has improved enormously over the last several years.

The way I look at it is, where would I be today going on three years post treatment of also, four types of chemo and 35 head & neck shots of radiation over a sixteen week period...more than likely six foot under.

If (and I hope never), that I had to do it again, I would in a heartbeat. I love life to much to even consider not going out kicking and screaming....

Again, I'm very sorry for you and your husbands experience, but unfortunately your's does not seem to be the norm...

I don't really feel that we are the "lucky" ones, again unfortunately I feel you guys ended up being one of the "unlucky" ones.

Thoughts and Prayers,
John

navwife said:

I'm sorry
but I was just diagnosed yesterday and my son found this forum for me. Would someone first tell me how to start my own thread...and secondly....what is a PEG?

Welcome NavWife
Welcome to the forum, great people here and tons of experience and survivor knowledge.

Starting a post is easy, go the the main H&N Cancer forum (where all of the threads are), at the top it says "post new discussion topic"...

Here is the link;

Post New Topic

PEG, stands for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (I didn't have one, so can't offer much insight), it's basically a feeding tube. It's inserted usually before treatment and used to feed yourself when your throat becomes too raw and sore during rads mainly.

On the SuperThread which another member Sweetblood22 started, she has tons of very valuable information and links...I highly suggest going over it. Here is the link to that;

SuperThread

There is an entire section on there concerning the PEG also.

Thoughts and Prayers,
John