Good News!

Mrs. Sarge
Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Went for my consult today and I'm not NEARLY as frightened. He said I wouldn't have most of the side effects that I read about here on these boards, because of where my cancer is and because they can pinpoint it so precisely. I have to have another MRI Friday and if that turns out clear then the treatment plan is for 28 days of rads. Shouldn't lose any hair, salivary glands, don't need a PEG, well, all the bad side effects won't apply unless there's a recurrence......just had to shout it!!!

Thanks so much for all your help. I plan to be posting with good news Friday!

My prayers are with all the ones with worse news!
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Comments

  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #2
    Congrars
    GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

    Linda
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
    here's how it works
    Sensitivity to radiation is a variable commodity. However, loss of salivary function begins at about 5200 rads. Hair loss at a lower dose than that. You are receiving 5600 rads. It is true that an average dose for SCC is about 6800-7000 rads. This will be whatever it is. You are less likely to lose salivary function and hair, that's true. But it is certainly not absolute. And I wonder, why is your radiation dose so low?

    Best to you.

    Pat
  • mls351w
    mls351w Member Posts: 90
    #4
    longtermsurvivor said:

    here's how it works
    Sensitivity to radiation is a variable commodity. However, loss of salivary function begins at about 5200 rads. Hair loss at a lower dose than that. You are receiving 5600 rads. It is true that an average dose for SCC is about 6800-7000 rads. This will be whatever it is. You are less likely to lose salivary function and hair, that's true. But it is certainly not absolute. And I wonder, why is your radiation dose so low?

    Best to you.

    Pat

    Good news
    Mrs Sarge, This sounds wonderful, and I hope you are feeling relieved. I was kinda wondering about the radiation thing also. Not as many as I would have expected.
    But I am so happy for you, and I will keep you in my thoughts daily!
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #5
    mls351w said:

    Good news
    Mrs Sarge, This sounds wonderful, and I hope you are feeling relieved. I was kinda wondering about the radiation thing also. Not as many as I would have expected.
    But I am so happy for you, and I will keep you in my thoughts daily!

    Slightly stronger
    doses for shorter days has been more effective in a higher cure rate, according to studies.
    He said the radiation is able to be so pinpointed as to alleviate the usual side effects, such as the salivary glands, teeth issues, etc. I may lose some or all of my thyroid function, and it may affect the cartilage in the front of my neck. It certainly won't be a piece of cake, but he said I won't need the PEG, which I was dreading. I know everyone is different, but I'm believing God that I can get through this and come out the other side with a little bit better voice and cured!!
    Thanks for the thoughts and encouragement.
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #6
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Slightly stronger
    doses for shorter days has been more effective in a higher cure rate, according to studies.
    He said the radiation is able to be so pinpointed as to alleviate the usual side effects, such as the salivary glands, teeth issues, etc. I may lose some or all of my thyroid function, and it may affect the cartilage in the front of my neck. It certainly won't be a piece of cake, but he said I won't need the PEG, which I was dreading. I know everyone is different, but I'm believing God that I can get through this and come out the other side with a little bit better voice and cured!!
    Thanks for the thoughts and encouragement.

    MRI results
    could change all of this good news, however. If it's clear, we go forward as planned, if not, then don't know, probably wider scope of radiation with the usual side effects. Stage 1 with no node involvement is the ideal if you have to have C, is what he said.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #7
    Good Yes
    thanks for sharing the good news. prayers going out for good news with the mri on friday. prayers for patience thru the weekend as you wait for the results.

    john
  • stayingpositive
    stayingpositive Member Posts: 89
    #8
    Good news? Its Great news!!!
    Sounds great! Lets hope the MRI is a clear! It makes me so happy to hear someone getting good news.

    stay positive

    bill
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #9
    Hoping...
    Don't mean to be a party pooper, but I can't help but to be a little skeptical. Hopefully you'll fly through...

    All of our radiation is exactly pinpoint to within millimeters. Mine ranged from 6000 - 7000 grays or rads. But it's also that residual that kills anything potentially close.

    Anyways, I really hope for the best, but the old phrase on here of everyone being different I believe holds true here as well.

    Best,
    John
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #10
    Skiffin16 said:

    Hoping...
    Don't mean to be a party pooper, but I can't help but to be a little skeptical. Hopefully you'll fly through...

    All of our radiation is exactly pinpoint to within millimeters. Mine ranged from 6000 - 7000 grays or rads. But it's also that residual that kills anything potentially close.

    Anyways, I really hope for the best, but the old phrase on here of everyone being different I believe holds true here as well.

    Best,
    John

    John
    I know what you're saying, and we know things could change, but going in I'm hoping for this great news and really a miracle from what it was looking like before!! Thanks!
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #11
    Oh honey....
    this is great news. It's so nice to know that some folks escape the REALLy big bad wolf...and just walk with his cousin.

    Please do come back tho, and let us know how it's going....you're a part of this group no matter what stage...besides even if you do escape the bad side effects, there will still be questions...it's not like you're getting out of rads altogether.

    All in all tho, this is wonderful news.

    p
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #12
    phrannie51 said:

    Oh honey....
    this is great news. It's so nice to know that some folks escape the REALLy big bad wolf...and just walk with his cousin.

    Please do come back tho, and let us know how it's going....you're a part of this group no matter what stage...besides even if you do escape the bad side effects, there will still be questions...it's not like you're getting out of rads altogether.

    All in all tho, this is wonderful news.

    p

    Thanks
    Phrannie, I am a part of this group, forever, and yes, it won't be a piece of cake, just maybe a smaller dose....there are complications that I could face, but after all my worrying and sleepless nights I was thrilled that going in I wouldn't be a "worst" case scenario!! I will keep in touch with everyone and tell my progress.
  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #13
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Thanks
    Phrannie, I am a part of this group, forever, and yes, it won't be a piece of cake, just maybe a smaller dose....there are complications that I could face, but after all my worrying and sleepless nights I was thrilled that going in I wouldn't be a "worst" case scenario!! I will keep in touch with everyone and tell my progress.

    Hey Mrs Sarge
    I know anything that even remotely sounds positive or less invasive can only lift our spirits. So good look to you and Gods Speed.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #14
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    John
    I know what you're saying, and we know things could change, but going in I'm hoping for this great news and really a miracle from what it was looking like before!! Thanks!

    Over Achiever....
    LOL, it's all good and I'm thrilled that you might have a lesser form of treatment. I'm just one of those that goes for gusto...LOL, hit me with your best shot and be done with it.

    John
  • patricke
    patricke Member Posts: 570 Member
    #15
    Congratulations, that's
    Congratulations, that's great news!! It's time to jump and shout, along of course with the happy dance!

    PATRICK
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #16
    Hoping for a Clear MRI later Today
    Do you know when you'll have results?
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #17
    Skiffin16 said:

    Over Achiever....
    LOL, it's all good and I'm thrilled that you might have a lesser form of treatment. I'm just one of those that goes for gusto...LOL, hit me with your best shot and be done with it.

    John

    2nd that
    John
    I am on your team, the risk for me just is not what i need.... take the cancer out with the big boom

    john
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #18
    Pam M said:

    Hoping for a Clear MRI later Today
    Do you know when you'll have results?

    Don't know
    But I will call the Dr. office Monday, you can be sure!! Also had my mask fitting and survived!!!! As recommended here on the boards I ask the tech to cut out the eye holes and I think I can handle it without meds, I'm gonna try at least! I found out my usual rad session (the first one will take 30 mins for checking markings, etc) will be only 10 mins. The Dr had said 1 min radiation on each side of my vocal cords is why he doesn't expect any of the severe side effects. I guess I can do that if all of you have to endure 20-30 mins along with chemo.....wow.....You all have my prayers for sure!!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #19
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Don't know
    But I will call the Dr. office Monday, you can be sure!! Also had my mask fitting and survived!!!! As recommended here on the boards I ask the tech to cut out the eye holes and I think I can handle it without meds, I'm gonna try at least! I found out my usual rad session (the first one will take 30 mins for checking markings, etc) will be only 10 mins. The Dr had said 1 min radiation on each side of my vocal cords is why he doesn't expect any of the severe side effects. I guess I can do that if all of you have to endure 20-30 mins along with chemo.....wow.....You all have my prayers for sure!!

    Monday Monday...
    Monday of each week, mine was about 5-10 minutes longer due to an X-Ray shot for verifying the mask fit. But normal for me was the 15 minutes range.

    Take a CD with you and have them play it....figure a few songs and you're done for the day.

    Also, you might check if you like, but at my facility when I have a PET or CT. I can request a desk copy and they'll have a CD and report of the results in 24 hours that I can pick up.

    Best,
    John
  • stayingpositive
    stayingpositive Member Posts: 89
    #20
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Don't know
    But I will call the Dr. office Monday, you can be sure!! Also had my mask fitting and survived!!!! As recommended here on the boards I ask the tech to cut out the eye holes and I think I can handle it without meds, I'm gonna try at least! I found out my usual rad session (the first one will take 30 mins for checking markings, etc) will be only 10 mins. The Dr had said 1 min radiation on each side of my vocal cords is why he doesn't expect any of the severe side effects. I guess I can do that if all of you have to endure 20-30 mins along with chemo.....wow.....You all have my prayers for sure!!

    5-10 min is great
    Thats good, my last half of my sessions they knocked down to 5 min, but they still took xray pics to insure head alignment, but it still only took about 10 min total. If you have your "head wrapped around it", I guess you'll be ok with it then!

    Keep staying positive

    Bill
  • RinMinn
    RinMinn Member Posts: 18
    #21
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Don't know
    But I will call the Dr. office Monday, you can be sure!! Also had my mask fitting and survived!!!! As recommended here on the boards I ask the tech to cut out the eye holes and I think I can handle it without meds, I'm gonna try at least! I found out my usual rad session (the first one will take 30 mins for checking markings, etc) will be only 10 mins. The Dr had said 1 min radiation on each side of my vocal cords is why he doesn't expect any of the severe side effects. I guess I can do that if all of you have to endure 20-30 mins along with chemo.....wow.....You all have my prayers for sure!!

    Great!
    Just saw your news Mrs. Sarge.
    Coolbeans!

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