Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Neo - Matrix
I love those movies.....

Welcome Neo, glad you found your way here....

I had Tonsil Cancer, but had three cycles (three weeks each) of chemo, then also seven weeks of chemo/daily rads...

As for side effects, everyone is different and you just basically treat them as you get them.

There is a SuperThread that Sweetblood (Dawn) built that has tons of great information for the newbie like yourself.

SuperThread

Check it out, I'm sure you'll find it very helpful.

Best,
John

Hondo said:

The Matrix
Yep I am hooked on that too. I can watch it over and over again.

Makes you wonder, don’t it! I will take the red pill,
ops I do that everyday. lol :+)
Hondo

Two New Ones
I believe that Dawn shares enjoying the same types of movies...

There are two new series that I'm into on TV as well;

Falling Skies and Terra Nova...., Falling Skies is filming new episodes not released until this coming summer. Terra Nova just premiered this week.

JG

Welcome Neo
Always sorry to read of someone else with NPC. I was diagnosed in May of 2010 with stage 4 with distant mets to bone and have received both chemo and radiation. Sweetblood's Superthread is a great resource for you. Check it out. Here are a few things I recommend:

Adopt an organic, mainly vegan diet. Make sure your water is clean; buy filters for your shower and sink if necessary. Exercise as much as you can without becoming exhausted; everyday. Do yoga. Coffee enemas daily to keep your liver clean will help minimize side effects. Get a feeding tube put in PRIOR to beginning radiation; insist on it if your doc doesn't think you need one. Stay away from canned feeding tube formulas with corn syrup and maltodextrin in them; make your own organic vegan ones with a Vitamix. Get second and third opinions on everything; don't just trust one doctor. Buy the books: Anti-Cancer, Life Over Cancer, Beating Cancer With Nutrition, One Bite at a Time, China Study and Cancer on $5 per day and read them. Rest before you're tired, eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty. Surround yourself with people that love you unconditionally and will support you even when you feel like crap and are cranky. See a therapist; talk about what's going on with you. Pray constantly. Listen to music that makes you feel good. Watch movies that make you laugh. Put a bird feeder up outside your bedroom window so you can watch the birds when you don't feel good. Believe that you can beat this; you can. Ask any questions you want; here and of your docs. Be strong but know it's ok to be sick and cry. Spend as much time in nature as you can.
Those are just my suggestions. Lots more to come your way I'm sure. We're a very caring family here.

Keep in touch,

AB

robertjuy said:

Harder boat
We all know you are scared, but you have to be strong. you have to fight. It's ok to be sad but pick up your strength. I give all my emotional support to my wife and kid. They deserve the best.
My wife is on stage 4 npc.
5 days 3 types of Chemo / 2 weeks off (1st Cycle)
5 days 3 types of Chemo / 2 weeks off (2nd Cycle)
5 days 3 types of Chemo / 2 weeks off (3rd Cycle)
6 weeks Radiation with once a week Chemo

She eats what ever the hell she wants too when she feels good. Anything she wants I will get her to eat. She's asian so we stay with asian foods. She regularly rinses her mouth with a saline rinse. We do keep the house going with air filters and constant vacuuming. Filtered water and the such. Exercise whenever you can. Not because you don't want to but from reading your message you're not taking it too well. You can cry, you can pray, you can scream, but there is no die. do not look at what could have been, look at what can be. every day is a new day. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT. I'll tell you a quick story. My wife was worried so much and the doctor wanted to double check. her tumor shrunk 60%. We're about to go to stage 3. You can do this. Everyone on this fourm, everyone in your life will cheer you on. but know one thing, this is your fight. Kill cancer, don't let it kill you.

I never heard in cycles for NPC cancer
Hi
I was diagnosed with NPC 4+ last feburary and I never went in cycles they just did it 1 day from 9 to 3pm with cisplatin then later that day I was hooked up with 5FU for 5 days per month for 3-4 months.

Then I had IMRT radiation treatment for 7 weeks for 5 days straight m-f 20mins a day.

By the way I am only 25.

timreichhart said:

I never heard in cycles for NPC cancer
Hi
I was diagnosed with NPC 4+ last feburary and I never went in cycles they just did it 1 day from 9 to 3pm with cisplatin then later that day I was hooked up with 5FU for 5 days per month for 3-4 months.

Then I had IMRT radiation treatment for 7 weeks for 5 days straight m-f 20mins a day.

By the way I am only 25.

different treatment methods
I think the methods are different for each stage 4+. My wife has stage 4 and is 38 yrs old. following the treatment I mentioned above. However it did get to some bone and a Lymph Node. Your doctors definition of stage 4 may be different and not be spread and be only localized in your nasopharnex but the tumor may be larger then a certain size.

NeoTheron91 said:

Finished second cycle
hi

Just finished 2nd cycle of Chemo.

Radiation will start end of this month.

Just put the PEG for supply food in case I won't be able to eat during radiation.


cheers,
Neo

Hi Neo

Just hang in there and keep doing your treatment, before you know it, it will all be over with and you will be on the other side of the fence.

Wishing you well my friend
Hondo

NeoTheron91 said:

Thanks
Hi Hondo,

Thanks for your wishes!

cheers,
Neo

Hi Neo

Keep finding things to keep you busy during the day and at night it helps with making the time go by faster, or that is the way I did it. I like to rebuild things so I would find and old engine and tear it apart and put it back like new. Then at night I would read or study my Bible or something and before I knew it a lot of the times went by. It was hard because I was in pain someday and hurting because of the throat being burnt. But the object was on staying focus on something other then my treatment.

Hope this help my friend, and please continue to give us an up-date on how you are doing.

All the best to you
Hondo

NeoTheron91 said:

Radiation starts today
Hi

My radiation started today. It took me 20 min for actual radiation plus 20 min for preparation coz it's first day.

Tomorrow is radiation and chemo(5FU) together.

regards,
Neo

Hi Neo
Glad to hear from you again my friend just remember our prayers and thoughts will be with you as you start your radiation treatment today. Keep yourself focus on the end of the finish line and we will all be there cheering you on through out your race.

Take care
Hondo

NeoTheron91 said:

5 days passed
Radiation for 5 days now. My taste buds are gone. Not sure it's from either once a week Chemo or radiation?

Could be either
or a combination. No way to know. My taste and saliva went away quite a bit faster than some of the other posters report during my radiation treatment, so even though it is early if due to radiation, it is possible. It's all just part of the process. No matter which, the future will give it back to you.

NeoTheron91 said:

5 days passed
Radiation for 5 days now. My taste buds are gone. Not sure it's from either once a week Chemo or radiation?

Both
Agreed more than likely both...though usually the chemo is only temporary short term, lasting only a week or so.

The radiation will be the long term, more than likely taking several months to get the majority of both taste and saliva back..

Hang in there, it get tough, but you are tougher.

Best,
John