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bryan1995
bryan1995 Member Posts: 4
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi,

My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 oral cavity cancer (left side of his face ) with 1 postive lympnodes involvement  2 months ago and he already had the operation that remove the cancer mass and most of his jaw bone (because the cancer mass is already covering his bone) and also remove 3 lympnodes(2 left and 1 right ) 3 weeks ago. He had to stay in the ICU for 3 days and normal ward for 10 days but now eating food normally but everything has to be soft since his left jaw bone is now 8mm thick and most of his left side teeth are now gone.Other than that every thing is normal and he is now starting his 2 or 3 rounds of chemo and 6 clsweeks of radition. He is already down with 1 round of chemo (clsplatin) and 3 days of radition. the radition didn't effect him that much as it's only been three days but the chemo(clsplatin) has been hard on him with all the headaches all day long, nausea , vomiting and hiccup all day long .The chemo doctor did give painkillers and anti - nausea and vomitting drugs. Even though the anti- nausea and vomitting drugs work , the painkillers are not working thus the headache all day long which making him not being able to move or wake up from bed (cuz moving alot make the headache much stronger.)Now my dad is having doubts whether he can finsh the chemo and the radition and kept asking whether is all worth fighting for and what if the cancer comes back. And i myself is getting really depress seeing him like this since i m the only one taking care of him here in bangkok. We are oringinally from Myanmar or BUrma and since the medical tretment there are not so good, we came here in bangkok Bumrangrad hospial to get all the tretment and since my mum had to work. I had to come with my dad to take care of him here in bangkok. And lastly, why is hiccup-ing all day long?>>>

Thank you

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    Welcome

    Bryan,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, so sorry you find yourself here, but it sounds like you are in the thick of it.

    Your Dad is on a rough road right now, but once they get the pain under control he will be able to manage the rest of treatments. The docs have a variety of pain meds to use and with a little luck they will find one soon which works.

    There have been others here who got hiccups, but I can’t remember if they did anything or let them run their course.  You may find some helpful information inside the superthread.

    Remember to keep him hydrated and well nourished.

    Don’t let him give up, many of us hit rough spots, but it does get better.  Anyway, his surgery sounded pretty tough and he is working his way beyond that.

    Best of luck,

    Matt

  • susyq7
    susyq7 Member Posts: 10
    #3
    hiccups!!

    Hi Bryan. I joined yesterday in hopes of finding answers. I am pleased that I may be able to help someone else too. My husband had hiccups. They are referred to as chemo hiccups. He had them so bad that his lips started turning blue from lack of oxygen. Dr prescribed him Chlorpromaz 25 mg. You can get those annoying hiccups under control. The meds worked like a charm. He still gets hiccups now and then and one pill stops them. I too am alone in the care of my loved one. My husband has peg tube and has to have meds crushed and liquified before he can take them. He can't swallow yet. I know you get depressed and i think depression is normal. You are caring for your Dad and you love him. When he suffers..you suffer. Sometimes love hurts and I think God has put us here for a purpose. To help each other and take the hand that is extended to us. :)

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #4
    susyq7 said:

    hiccups!!

    Hi Bryan. I joined yesterday in hopes of finding answers. I am pleased that I may be able to help someone else too. My husband had hiccups. They are referred to as chemo hiccups. He had them so bad that his lips started turning blue from lack of oxygen. Dr prescribed him Chlorpromaz 25 mg. You can get those annoying hiccups under control. The meds worked like a charm. He still gets hiccups now and then and one pill stops them. I too am alone in the care of my loved one. My husband has peg tube and has to have meds crushed and liquified before he can take them. He can't swallow yet. I know you get depressed and i think depression is normal. You are caring for your Dad and you love him. When he suffers..you suffer. Sometimes love hurts and I think God has put us here for a purpose. To help each other and take the hand that is extended to us. :)

    Bryan

    I had the same surgery as your Dad in 1/2012 cancer of left jaw. I finished rads and Cisplatin 05/2012. I had trouble with the cisplatin so they cut my dose in half and did it every week which was easier on me. When pain got worse, I had fentanyl (?) patches. This is really tough but with your help and encouragement he will get thru it.  Nutrition and hydration are key. 

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #5
    bryan, i just want to say

    bryan, i just want to say welcome to our family.  i'm sorry you have the need to be here.  we will all be here to help you thru this trip.  come here as often and for any reason and someone will most likely be here to help you.  it is a rough road but your dad can make it  thru.  try to keep him positive and remind him it will be over soon.  if the current meds aren't working, tell the docs so they can change them.  i'm sure they have something that will work.  tell your dad, yes, it is worth it.  he will soon look back on this and be glad he did it.  i will be keeping you and your family in my prayers.  please let us know how your dad does.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • bryan1995
    bryan1995 Member Posts: 4
    #6
    CivilMatt said:

    Welcome

    Bryan,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, so sorry you find yourself here, but it sounds like you are in the thick of it.

    Your Dad is on a rough road right now, but once they get the pain under control he will be able to manage the rest of treatments. The docs have a variety of pain meds to use and with a little luck they will find one soon which works.

    There have been others here who got hiccups, but I can’t remember if they did anything or let them run their course.  You may find some helpful information inside the superthread.

    Remember to keep him hydrated and well nourished.

    Don’t let him give up, many of us hit rough spots, but it does get better.  Anyway, his surgery sounded pretty tough and he is working his way beyond that.

    Best of luck,

    Matt

    Thank you for your kind

    Thank you for your kind words. I am trying my best to keep him hydrated but he is still not eating much but i m goin all in with the ensure. 

  • bryan1995
    bryan1995 Member Posts: 4
    #7
    susyq7 said:

    hiccups!!

    Hi Bryan. I joined yesterday in hopes of finding answers. I am pleased that I may be able to help someone else too. My husband had hiccups. They are referred to as chemo hiccups. He had them so bad that his lips started turning blue from lack of oxygen. Dr prescribed him Chlorpromaz 25 mg. You can get those annoying hiccups under control. The meds worked like a charm. He still gets hiccups now and then and one pill stops them. I too am alone in the care of my loved one. My husband has peg tube and has to have meds crushed and liquified before he can take them. He can't swallow yet. I know you get depressed and i think depression is normal. You are caring for your Dad and you love him. When he suffers..you suffer. Sometimes love hurts and I think God has put us here for a purpose. To help each other and take the hand that is extended to us. :)

    Again thank for your kind

    Again thank for your kind words. I ask the doctor for the chlopromaz and it did work like charm. THANK YOU

  • patricke
    patricke Member Posts: 570 Member
    #8
    HANG IN THERE

    Hey Bryan,

    It is a challenging journey that your dad is taking, but with your support he will make it through, and as difficult as it will be at times, it is more than worth it.  Tell your dad that now more than ever it is important to take things one day, hour, minute, second, or nanosecond at a time, which ever is appropriate for the situation that he is dealing with.  This will be a tough fight, but tell your dad to give it all he's got, because it's worth it, and he will make it to the other side of treatmet, and he will feel better.  Your dad feeling depressed, and you too about him having cancer and the treatment that he has to go through, is normal, but as difficult as it may be, it is important as much as possible to stay focused on the positive, even if the positive is only that your dad has made it thru another day of treatment, so that is one less to have to deal with, and there are now fewer ahead.  When things got real tough for me durning treatment, recovery, and even now when I face various challenges, I literally tell myself, "I CAN DO THIS" and it always gets me thru.  Hang in there Bryan, You Can Do This, and we are here for you.     

    PATRICK

  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    #9
    Bryan

    Welcome to our family.  It is a rough road, but one that you can survive.  I have over two year cancer free and my life is really good.  I have very few bad side effects and seem to deal with the "new normal" pretty good.  Stay on this sight when the going gets tough.  The radiation is tough.

     

    Ann

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