going thru rads without stopping

First time, only one day off, I had gotten very sick.  2nd time, no breaks, enjoy weekends, I think the machine broke down once.  3rd time, added chemo.  Sinus abcess, one week off, surgery, returned to program.  Missed on day because there was a substitute nurse at the chemo place and chemo took much longer that day, didn't make it to radiation.

I had 30 radiation & 3 cisplatin.  I had 2 breaks - 2 weeks on 1 week off, 2 weeks on, 1 week off, final 2 weeks.

I was exhausted and my throat was bleeding - so I took the breaks  (One was the week of Thanksgiving)

35 rads....and the ONLY reason there was a break was because the IMRT machine broke down for 3 days...otherwise I would have gone straight through also.

p

I had the nine weeks  (three week cycles) of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU, then seven weeks of concurrent weekly Carboplatin, and 35 daily rads sessions (M-F), all with no breaks...

The majority here that had any combination as myself or similar, just the concurrent, or rads only..., had no breaks.

There were a few that had some complications come up, mainly with chemo related side effects that caused a delay.., but not many.

Most everyone here had no breaks with rads...

There were also some that had breaks not due to them.., machine break downs..

John

ahollie said:

thank you for the

thank you for the encouragement!!! were you also receiving chemo at the same time?

3 Cisplatin treatments during the time I was doing the rads.....AND, I was getting Amifostine on a daily basis (I called it my "daily sick")....and I still would have gotten through rads without stopping if the damned machine hadn't messed up.  One thing that could cause a break would be the condition of the neck skin....mine wasn't all that bad.....but some folks here had cracking, oozing necks....THAT would be a reason to take a break.

Do this one day at a time....even with a break, he may very well feel up to going to the graduation, even if he doesn't feel like attending any of the celebrations afterwards.....one day at a time.....one foot in front of the other.....don't let what may or not be happening in May suck up room in your head right now.

p 

ahollie said:

Yes..we were aware of

Yes..we were aware of that..just hoped that 3 weeks would be at least a long enought time for him to be able to make it to her graduation..being able to travel etc....they said they would give him a break if needed but then it would be right at the same time as she grads...

I was also one that had continuous radiation.  Back then in 1998, I went through almost nine weeks, except weekends and one holiday.  At the end of the 8th week, my oncologist determined I needed a few more days so completed three more rads on the 9th week.   I volunteered for this new radiation implant procedure for a lymph node and returned a couple of months later and was hospitalized for two nights.

I asked to have chemo and after the second treatment, I was too sick to continue.  That was postponed until after completion of rads.  At the end, I decided not to continue chemo treatment.

Didn't make it all the way through.  Had to take a week off, about half way through, owing to severe burns of the neck.  I had a PEG tube installed mid-stream, the gastro doc gave me some antibiotics to prevent a skin infection around the incision, and the antibiotics (you know, the ones that tell you to avoid sun) made my skin more prone to burning. No harm, no foul, healed up fast with Biafine cream, and I was right back into the mask.

Deb

ratface said:

plan on attending

I didn't see any details about travel, will you be flying? Could be a bit uncomfortable, especially if he has a peg and port. There is a travel card for "ports" I forget why, perhaps they have metal in them?? He might want to wear a mask to keep germs down to a minimum, not too much hand shaking I hope. Remember his immune system is somewhat compromised at this point but I think the pshcological aspect of it will be huge. Congrats on the graduation! 

I went straight through rads but did not finish my Cisplatin as counts were too low. Everyone says you continue to cook for weeks following but I had steady improvement at the end of tx. My neck turned dark but never broke open or hurt. At week 5 post, I turned the corner with energy and at week 6 post, I was loaded with energy. I had a g-tube, similar to PEG, that ONC wanted to keep in for 12 weeks post tx. just in case I needed it. I made a decision to have it out as soon as I was eating & drinking without issue and am glad I did. My Hohn catheter (like a port) came out as soon as I finished tx. Your husband maybe tired and will need to pace the activities but he should be able to go and enjoy the graduation. If flying commercial, do use a mask on the plane. If driving, ask the doctor for a temporary handicap sticker to help conserve his energy.