Week 3 and feeling it

I'm so glad you found this forum.....it is the best one on the internet.

I would doubt that his side effects are peaking at this juncture (only 3 weeks into radiation)....but I'm glad to hear that he's going to get a PEG.  Getting all the hydration you can take in is SO SO important.  Dehydration brings with it a muriad of consequences....and feeling weak and nauseous are two.  Getting the tube placed will allow him to pour in lots of water and nutritional drinks...even milk to keep his strength up.

I had an awful time keeping food down after chemo, but knew that I simply had to.....I'd take a Zophran, or a Compazine....wait 45 minutes, and then I'd do an Ensure Plus.....most of the time that worked for me.  He may need to go in to get hydrated during the four days after chemo....that's par for the course, so don't let him poo poo you on that.....if he can't keep anything down, then get him in for hydration.....he will feel so much better.

You are joining some other incredible caretakers here......again, welcome!!

p

Hi Kelly,

Welcome. Sorry you find yourself here. The folks here are awesome. They've helped me in more ways than I can count.

I'm about the same place in treatment as your husband albeit older (54).  I was diagnosed Nov.30 with SCC H&N. After two tonsillectomies (palatine and lingual), biopsies and laryngoscopies, no pimary site was found. I also had a selective neck dissection to remove the cancerous lymph nodes. Official diagnosis Tx N2b MO Stage IV. HPV+ (I was a smoker as well..double whammy!)

Treatment started March 14. I'm getting 30 rads and 6 concurrent weekly chemos (Cisplatin 80mg). Next week will be the halfway point. I can't say I've hit the wall but I see it on the other side of the room at this point. My RO put me on Nuerontin just after my surgery and that is actually working in blocking throat pain and other pain from the treatment from setting in. He also prescribed a low dose liquid oxy to take 30 minutes prior to eating. So far so good but I'm close to going back to soft foods as I still have pain swallowing solids. Swallowing and nerve issues persist from the neck dissection despite therapy. 

Everyone says and will say that we're all diffrerent and react differently to treatment. Based on the testimonies you'll read here, this is true. However, I can say with confidence at this point that the effects at close to three weeks are not peaking. Radiation has a cumulative effect as does chemo. All the folks I met waiting to get zapped in the rad waiting area as well as my rad-onc team say that it gets pretty rough from three weeks on out. I can tell you that I feel worse after the 2nd chemo than I did the first and the rads are starting to get to me a bit. On the positive side, I still have my taste buds but they're fading and I still have some saliva but that's fading too.  

As you'll hear time and time again. HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE! Nutrition is key as well. Talk to your MO about the nausea. I've done well thus far on two meds with a breakthrough med in case. I had to take the breakthrough last night as I was feeling pretty crappy. What's interesting is it's not nausea per se' as it's a feeling of "yuck" like I'm coming down with the flu (there's that everyone is different thing again).  I'm able to hold down what I eat no problem (so far). I wanted a PEG but my team wants to see how I do without it. 

Please express your concerns to your team. That's what they're there for. Keep an eye out for dehydration and go to the hospital to get fluids if he starts to experience them. 

Best wishes and prayers on your journey. 

"T"

My husband is a healthy, non-smoking 44 year old with BOT SCC HPV+ stage 4, lymph nodes on L side. We haven't started treatment yet, so I'm sorry I don't have advice for you but I just wanted to say "HI". 

I hope the peg tube finds you both the comfort you need. My husband's Rad/onc wants him to try and tough it out first, but from what I read here, it's a life saver. 

Good Luck,

Helen