radiation masks

Cherie,

You really need to skim through the Superthread.  It has more information than you can believe.

In a nut shell, Your Dad’s mask is in a locker with all the other masks. Unless you witness a rad treatment you probably will not see it until treatments are over. I did not like the mask, others get along just fine.

Some rad side effects (not chemo) sore throat, mouth and tongue.  Difficulty swallowing (that is why some have a PEG).  Whiskers from the chin down, gone.

Fatigue, always tired, I slept a lot.

Dry mouth like nothing you ever dreamed about.

No saliva or spit

No taste buds (or very little)

Terrible mucus, coughing, hacking, dry heaves.

This is just some of what I went through.  Chemo can bring up terrible side effects too.  There are just as many people that had it easier as had it tougher.

It all gets better once treatments are complete. My taste buds are  coming back along with the saliva. I sleep very well and I am in no pain.

He will be ok (if he can just get moved-in) kidding

Matt

CherieLW said:

Thanks for the info...its all

Thanks for the info...its all new to me so I just want to be informed.  How soon after your treatments would you say you started feeling better?  I'm sure it's probably different for some. And he will get moved in!  He's got a lot of support.  I mean a lot.  Also,  did your doctors recommend resting or going about your daily activities?  I worry about him doing too much,  not sure it's good or bad.  Thanks for answering all my questions. 

Better is relative... what is better for you and me, doesn't mean the same to your father, or Matt...

Generally, everyone is still cooking from rads for a good month after the last one...and that's usually your roughest period during treatement, and recovery.

But for me, I was still fishing, working from home (computer work)..., tired, and hungry..., LOL.

Everyone is different...

The tonsils coming out was more intense, just shorter...

Read the SuperThread, and old posts, ask questions..., but realize, what some have went through, more than likely your dad won't have them all... But I guarantee, that whatever he goes through..., someone else here has also..., and survived to help you get through...

JG

Cherie,

I actually started to feel better after the first week post treatments. I know this for sure because I had my blasted PICC line removed and it always itched to no end. At week two I popped my PEG and that felt measurably better.  While I felt fine and the neck burn and sore mouth, tongue and throat went away, my eating did not truly rebound for 7 months.

Working for me was piece meal and from home.  Since I took 1 Lorazapam every day I wore the mask, I mostly slept my afternoons away.  Any work I did was a challenge because of the fatigue.

My doctors did not say much about activities except no shaving with a razor.  They were more concerned with my blood work and side effects.

You will be fine and a lot of help for your Dad. It will be tough sometimes and you may get to know your Dad and the human condition more closely than you can fathom right now.  It is not easy to see a loved one go  through cancer treatments.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, I still visited my parents every week-end, watched a lot of TV and went for rides.

Time for bed,

Matt

CherieLW said:

I hope you did run over it!

I hope you did run over it!  Hope no one ever has to go through it again.  Thx for the pic.  I really hope dad has minimal side effects too..can you buy calendula cream over the counter? 

health food store...there were several choices of types....I bought the kind for babies butts.  The Aloe 99 I got from the Radiation Dr.

p

but I remember when I went to have my mask made, the tech (whom I LOVE) told me.."don't think about what's going on.  Close your eyes and go somewhere fun, relaxing and calm."  And that is so true.  If you go in thinking..."hey...my head is snapped down to this table", then it's a little stressful.  I close my eyes, relax and pray.  I pray for the medical staff, thank God for my healing, and pray for everyone on my prayer list who are sick.  It gives me such peace and the time is over very fast.  My tech also says to me "one day at a time, and there is one more treatment done!"  Day by day.  

CherieLW said:

Your post was very thorough.

Your post was very thorough.  Thanks everyone for being patient and telling me your experiences.  It's nice you were familiar with things.  Hope this helps my family and myself feel better looking at all your positive perspectives of why is necessary.  

one last comment, actually something I missed in a previous post.

CLEAN neck before any treatment, don't apply the aloe vera or aqua-phor until AFTER a treatment is finished.  Going in with a slicked up neck can create burns on the skin.  Think french fries and oil....

dales2loud said:

Just be there in good spirits for him!

Nothing much to add but I'm sur your dad does not want to worry you, it's perfectly alright to be in a great mood. I never wanted my teenage daughter to have her summer taken away because of me. So be in a good mood, especially in the chemo room, that's where he'll be getting much needed fluids and probably 3 Chemo's. Try to have lots ofdifferent types of foofloor him to try because most likely he will loose or not have normal taste for awhile. Good luck, keep us up to date.

Dale

I think this tx can be just as hard for caregivers as it is for those of us going through it. I was told to imagine I was getting a facial when mask was made and that is exactly what it felt like. Radiation treatments only last about 15 minutes and are not painful. It's the side effects that cause problems. I had fatigue and sores on my lips. I started feeling better week 1 post tx and it continued to get better other than a bout with thrush. Week 5 post tx, I really turned the corner and week 6 had all of my energy back. My suggestion is to "take it as it comes and deal with it." Don't worry about side effects that may never happen. I'm confident your Dad will be riding his motorcycle for many years.

Candi