frazzled

katenorwood
katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello everyone,

Went w/my brother for recheck and answer question time w/his ENT.  He defineately has HNSCC HPV+ with local mets (no known primary)  They pretty much opened him up took samples and stapled it back up.  The doctor said there was too much to surgically remove.  The good news is this is very treatable, with a 95% rate of NED.  He is looking at rads (6weeks) every day with chemo (not sure which one they will use yet) 2-3 times a week.

He is scared, and yet very upbeat about starting tx's.  The V.A. told him it wasn't going to be a walk in the park, and that if need be they would keep him in the hospital to get through the tx's.  Because of the distance he has to travel, this would be a blessing for him and his wonderful wife.

Any suggestions on things he might encounter and how to deal with them, would be wonderful.  I mentioned our fantastic site here, but not certain they will bop in.  So much to do to get things in line for the battle they are feeling pretty frazzled.   Hugs sent !  Katie

 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    Brotherly Love

    Katie,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, we have a member with the same wonderful name.

    Out of all the advice I read, took and used was to drink lots of water and to swallow, swallow, swallow.

    You know the drill; check-out the SuperThread for info and a list of must haves.

    Looking forward to those NED’s!

    Matt

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
    k, saying prayers that tx

    k, saying prayers that tx goes well.  i hope he and his wife will join us here, it may help them feel better.  i'm sure he'll do fine, especially with you in his corner.  praying for all invovled.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #4
    Katie, so sorry to hear your

    Katie, so sorry to hear your brother has to battle this beast. I pray he is able to stay at the hospital to keep the drive from adding to the stress. And of course, need I say, smooth sailing through treatment and NED at the end.

    Debbie

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #5
    CivilMatt said:

    Brotherly Love

    Katie,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, we have a member with the same wonderful name.

    Out of all the advice I read, took and used was to drink lots of water and to swallow, swallow, swallow.

    You know the drill; check-out the SuperThread for info and a list of must haves.

    Looking forward to those NED’s!

    Matt

    Thanks Matt !

    I did tell him about the importance of water, and to continue to swallow !  I thought I might get a few ideas from everyone and print them off for him.  I will check out the Super Thread also.  Being we have different dx's, his experiences will be different then mine.  Katie 

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #6
    debbiejeanne said:

    k, saying prayers that tx

    k, saying prayers that tx goes well.  i hope he and his wife will join us here, it may help them feel better.  i'm sure he'll do fine, especially with you in his corner.  praying for all invovled.

    God bless you,

    dj

    Thank you Debbiejeanne !

    I also hope they join this group to help them through the bumps and bangs.  But if not I can forward the experience of everyone.  Katie

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #7
    jim and i said:

    Katie, so sorry to hear your

    Katie, so sorry to hear your brother has to battle this beast. I pray he is able to stay at the hospital to keep the drive from adding to the stress. And of course, need I say, smooth sailing through treatment and NED at the end.

    Debbie

    Thank you Debbie !

    He's one tough cookie.  I know he'll do what it takes to beat this dx down.  The family is in shock, this makes 3 of us in less than 10 yrs.  It truely makes a person wonder what the heck is going on ?  Katie

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    Thoughts and Prayers...

    Coming your way (and your brother)...

    You've pretty much seen the drill on here over and over.

    Scan the superthread, hydrate, take in calories, control the pain before it gets out of hand, stay positive and keep on plugging away everyday.

    He will get through this...

    John

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Thoughts and Prayers...

    Coming your way (and your brother)...

    You've pretty much seen the drill on here over and over.

    Scan the superthread, hydrate, take in calories, control the pain before it gets out of hand, stay positive and keep on plugging away everyday.

    He will get through this...

    John

    Thank you John

    I will continue to scan what I can for him.  When there is a question we can't find an answer for I'll scan once again.  I've told him my experiences, and what I have read here.  He'll find his way through, as we all have !  Katie

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #10
    katenorwood said:

    Thank you John

    I will continue to scan what I can for him.  When there is a question we can't find an answer for I'll scan once again.  I've told him my experiences, and what I have read here.  He'll find his way through, as we all have !  Katie

    Darn it anyway

    So sorry to hear. 95% success for NED is very promising but we know the journey itself if rough. I was at Mayo Tuesday and when we met with the Radiologist and discussed recent cancers in my family within the past 3 years he said he was going to set an appt. w/ a geniology team next week when I'm up there for SBRT. There have been 4 cancers in my immediate family in the past 3 years. In addition, my husband had prostate cancer and now, likely, lung cancer (small and caught early sugery 04/17). Our houses have been checked for radon, nothing alarming found. We just want to do anything we can, if possible, to stop the nightmere. Prayers are with your brother and family.

    Candi

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #11
    hwt said:

    Darn it anyway

    So sorry to hear. 95% success for NED is very promising but we know the journey itself if rough. I was at Mayo Tuesday and when we met with the Radiologist and discussed recent cancers in my family within the past 3 years he said he was going to set an appt. w/ a geniology team next week when I'm up there for SBRT. There have been 4 cancers in my immediate family in the past 3 years. In addition, my husband had prostate cancer and now, likely, lung cancer (small and caught early sugery 04/17). Our houses have been checked for radon, nothing alarming found. We just want to do anything we can, if possible, to stop the nightmere. Prayers are with your brother and family.

    Candi

    candi, i'm sorry to hear of

    candi, i'm sorry to hear of all the cancer that has attacked you and your loved ones!!  saying prayers for all.  hope ur hubby's surgery goes well.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    #12
    long road

    Good luck...you will be in my prayers and will get lots of good advice from this site.  Take one day at a time and be strong.  It is hard, but can be done...    Ann

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