in treatment & struggling with my attitude

What kind of cancer and treatment plan, three weeks of rads are about alf of what most of us went through (or are going through), 35 days being the usual?

Also, some of us here have had to have various surgery or dissections post treatment, so that's not unheard of either.

For most here, treatment id rough, but doable..., most have a very high rate of success as well...

Stay focused, keep positive thoughts and spirits, negative one aren't going to do you any good...

Looking forward to hear more about you and your situation..

Best

John

Your feelings are perfectly normal, but you need to understand a few things that might calm you down a bit and turn this around.  First, the survival rate for HNC is going up every year.  There is a very good chance that you will survive, but there is no chance that it will be an easy thing.  My standard advice is to understand that cancer is not your biggest enemy at this point in time--it's the side effects from the rads and chemo.  So, think and worry less about cancer and focus more on what you need to do to make it through your treatments.  You need every bit of physical and emotional strength you can muster for that--negative thoughts and worry only reduce the energy you'll have to get through the treatments.

My second bit of advice is to not go through this alone--if you have someone who can be your primary caregiver, lean on him or her very hard, and also find others to help both of you with this.  A group of people has a lot more strength than just one person, so figure out how to draw on others in ways that makes this less stressful on everyone.

Finally, there are a LOT of great people on this site to call on.  No matter what you face down this road, someone (and probably many more) will have gone what you're going through, and can help you cope with this.  Cancer just doesn't atack your body--it attacks your psyche and your confidence.  Do your best to win that part of the battle and let the medical experts get your body through this.

Don't be a stranger here!

Mike

My husband was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in July 2010.  He was a Stage 3 but only because of the size of the tumor.  He underwent 35 radiation treatments and 3 chemo treatments.  It is rough and I hope you have a Peg tube.  We were told that since no spread they were competent that this treatment would work.  Well it didn't and he ended up having a laryngectomy in March 2011.  One thing they found out during surgery was that the radiation had completely closed off his throat and they had to reconstruct his throat.  He was able to eat again slowly and with lots of water to wash the food down.  He uses an electrolarynx to speak and when he takes his time he is understandable even on the phone.

Then in April of 2012 he decided to have a TEP procedure done.  Well the H&N specialist found a tumor at the cervical of his esophagus.  This was a second primary.  Very small and said that radiation and chemo would get it.  He underwent another 35 radiation and 7 chemo treatments.  Didn't really want to do surgery due to the radiation and damage from the first radiation.  Well he was NED for about 3 months and then in January found out that the cancer at the cervical of his esophagus had reoccurred and the tumor was much larger and had spread to his right lung.  Surgery out and radiation too.  Chemo would only prolong and could hasten.  Right now he is doing fairly well. 

Now don't let this scare you.  I know quite a few on www.webwhispers.com (a site that deals primarily with laryngeal cancer) who have survived laryngeal cancer for many many years.  In fact I have a friend whose second husband has been a survivor for over 40 years and speaks quite well with esophageal speech.  This site is also great and has many helpful people on it.

Just remember everyone is different in how they respond to treatment.  Many go thru and don't have any problems whatsoever with eating and others have to have a feeding tube.  Don't be afraid to ask for pain medication and use it.  My husband didn't want to at first and the doctors all told him, it would help him heal and he wouldn't become addicted, something he was afraid of. 

Wishing you the best -- Sharon

when going thru treatment for HNC....including some self-pity....Fear is something that takes over when we start projecting into the future....so good for you that you're trying to do "one day at a time" during treatment.....there's a learning curve in learning how to do that, and this treatment seems to help many to be quick studies in learning to live with their lives in 24 hour boxes.

For now, you do have your voice.....don't jump down the road thinking the what if's....the grand majority of "what if's" never come to pass.....BTW...my mom was a larongetomee.....once she had her TEP, she was able to do everything she'd always done....talk on the phone, play bridge with her friends....she even lectured at high schools on smoking.....if the worst came down the pike, it's still not the end of the world....

So far, you're doing good....treatment isn't a walk in the park....just hang in there.

p

Mohawk66,

Welcome to the H&N forum.

It sounds like you are approaching the start of the challenging weeks.  Remember to keep all care givers, doctors and nurses aware of how you are doing.  They will more than likely have some help for any side effect. Or, ask here, we are full of advice.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated and be swallowing all the time.  Learn what works best for you and do it.  Don’t play tough guy and do without pain meds, they can work wonders.  Most of us were scared; we just learn to live with it.

The treatments will more than likely kill the beast and allow you to live a full life.  Look to a brighter future.

Matt

MICH4EL said:

Day at a time

I won't repeat the great advice others have provided, except to suggest you focus on the treatment day to day and not dwell on the unknown future.  Everyone is different and cancer is unpredictable, so the future is always unknown.   You can help bring about the best possible outcome by focusing on doing everything you can to make the treatment effective. 

 

Michael

Sorry you have to take this scary journey.  I am soon to be 1 year with no evidence of disease. I am the first to say that I got caught up in the tx itself and lost sight of my goal. It didn't hit me until the day I got my scan results saying NED that I realized how much those difficult times were worth it. You are a step ahead of me as first chemo tx kicked my rear. Keep your chin up, like the rest of us, you're gonna be looking at this in your rearview mirror before you know it.

Candi

Hi Marty,

Glad to see that you're in a better place now. Attitude adjustments are part of the journey we take while undergoing treatment. Maintaining a positive attitude is difficult at best with the assault our bodies are taking during treatment. Combine that with a genuine concern about your voice and this being Head and Neck cancer, it can become overwhelming at times.

I'm a musician (guitar/vocals). My job is in the music industry and I perform locally as a solo act and duo. I make a living with my voice. Fortunately, after all the surgeries (tonsillectomies and neck dissection), biopsies and laryngoscopies my vocal cords look good. My larynx was spared the brunt of rads. While I still lost my voice at the end of treatment, it's beginning to come back a little just a week out from treatment ending. 

Like you, I have a wonderful caregiver who's been on every step of this journey with me. Don't underestimate empathic responses. No, our caregivers aren't going through the treatment themselves but they're witnessing first hand it's effects and the pain and helplessness they feel as well as the courage they must possess to walk with us is equally as strong as that of the warrior.

Hang in there Marty. You're in for a rough ride. It's brutal but you'll survive. The folks here are great and they helped me get through treatment "boot camp" so I was as ready as I could be. 

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"