I'm in the single digits for radiation treatments!!!

boardwalkgirl
boardwalkgirl Member Posts: 269
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
As of today, I am down to 9 radiation treatments.Yesterday they told me I would start getting a "bolus" of extra radiation to the area of my scar for the remaining treatments so I should expect for my skin to get more red. So far I have not really had any problems with my skin, I look like I have spent the last 5 weeks laying in a tanning bed but no peeling or open areas.
I have chemo 3 days next week and then I will be done with that. They are splitting it over 3 days instead of 2 hoping that I can tolerate it bettter.My plan is to start with BDR suppositoris Monday morning to get ahead of the nausea. Having some problems with sores in my mouth this week but I really feel blessed that I am this far and feel like I am doing pretty well. I have only lost 9 lbs so far and I am still able to eat some. I thank God every day for helping me thru this and all of you on this board have been such a help and inspiration. I am just counting down the days and taking it one step at a time.

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    In the radiation game.....
    the first high point....is reaching the half way mark......the next high point (and it's even higher) is single digits!!!! Good for you, I am excited for you...now you can tick those days down to 0....(and THAT is the ultimate high point).

    It's hard not to get over excited when we're this close to the end...but do listen to your body after rads are over...I'm a month out, and it's now that I have mouth sores, have to use my tube, feel like schmidt, and want to nap even more than during rads...guess I'm still simmering.

    p

    Sending a BIG virtual hug on the single digits, tho~~I remember well :)
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #3
    phrannie51 said:

    In the radiation game.....
    the first high point....is reaching the half way mark......the next high point (and it's even higher) is single digits!!!! Good for you, I am excited for you...now you can tick those days down to 0....(and THAT is the ultimate high point).

    It's hard not to get over excited when we're this close to the end...but do listen to your body after rads are over...I'm a month out, and it's now that I have mouth sores, have to use my tube, feel like schmidt, and want to nap even more than during rads...guess I'm still simmering.

    p

    Sending a BIG virtual hug on the single digits, tho~~I remember well :)

    Yup! Feels good to go down
    Yup! Feels good to go down single digits! I am happy for you for reaching this important mark without much side effects.

    As Phrannie said there is good period of simmering after the rads, but that will get done too.....one day at a time...we will reach the end of the tunnel.

    Sam
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #4
    single digits
    Hi boardwalkgirl,

    Single digits on the rads, chemo getting close to finished, a few sores, not much neck burn and you are still eating some, that’s it, you are doing just fine to doing great. Stay relaxed, tighten your bus belt, you are zooming in towards completion. Stay on top of your issues (as you obviously are) and just ask if anything new creeps up on you.

    Best of luck,

    Matt
  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #5
    Amazing
    I'm pleased you are doing so well. Continue to eat while you can because as others have mentioned, sometimes after you're done is when you may feel more of the effects. I hope your neck will continue to do well skin wise and you will keep good energy. I felt more tired after I was done than I did while still in treatment but we are all different. Just stay positive! Good luck to you and rest when you can.
    Billie
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    Billie67 said:

    Amazing
    I'm pleased you are doing so well. Continue to eat while you can because as others have mentioned, sometimes after you're done is when you may feel more of the effects. I hope your neck will continue to do well skin wise and you will keep good energy. I felt more tired after I was done than I did while still in treatment but we are all different. Just stay positive! Good luck to you and rest when you can.
    Billie

    Single digits
    Congrats, it is a good feeling isn't it. I did not encounter the changes in my skin until the first week out of treatment. Assumed maybe because I have an olive tone and tan easily. Once out of treatment, it got dark brown, dry and peeled but never painful. I had the huge lip sores from week one but once out of treatment, that was the first to heal. While I had side effects in the weeks following Tx, happy to say none were as bad as those during Tx. Like P51, slept allot 1st few weeks out. I turned the corner in a big way with the energy week 5/6. You'll be done before you know it!
  • boardwalkgirl
    boardwalkgirl Member Posts: 269
    #7
    hwt said:

    Single digits
    Congrats, it is a good feeling isn't it. I did not encounter the changes in my skin until the first week out of treatment. Assumed maybe because I have an olive tone and tan easily. Once out of treatment, it got dark brown, dry and peeled but never painful. I had the huge lip sores from week one but once out of treatment, that was the first to heal. While I had side effects in the weeks following Tx, happy to say none were as bad as those during Tx. Like P51, slept allot 1st few weeks out. I turned the corner in a big way with the energy week 5/6. You'll be done before you know it!

    Thanks everyone for your
    Thanks everyone for your support. I saw the doctor today for the sores in my mouth just to make sure that I didn't have any infection. He said this is just to be expected at this stage and there were no signs of infection. Using Magic Mouthwash and Peroxyl to see if that helps. I just want to keep eating if I can and didn't want the sores to mess that up. He encouraged me to take my Lortab routinely, which I have not been doing and said that if I can't eat that is what the feeding tube is for. This is after the doctor I saw last week told me I had to keep swallowing food not just liquids or I would end up having the feeding tube for the rest of my life. Kind of two different opinions there?????
  • carolinagirl67
    carolinagirl67 Member Posts: 153
    #8
    Good for you
    You are doing great. Use pure aloe on your neck everyday and you shouldn't peel or burn. It worked great for my husband. The sores in his mouth got worse after the radiation treatment was over, but he rinsed with salt water three or four times a day and that made a huge difference. Being able to eat/drink a little is good because you won't have a hard time transitioning back to regular eating. I was amazed how quickly he came around after his treatment stopped. You are so close. Good Luck!!

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