Swiss Cheese Trachea?

I don't think that rad damaged trach tissue heals so well, as I think that most tissues damaged by rads don't heal so well.  That being said, as just my opinion, I believe that  it would be good to chat with the docs about what the optons are if a hole is formed as a result of the radiation treatment.  Hopefully his trachea will come thru the treatment hole free. 

PATRICK

I would want answers on that from the doctor as well.

I never had any radation or chemo, but I do have a TEP which is a 7.5mm hole for my prosthesis,[so I can talk]. Now if the prosthesis were to come out, the hole will close up in under six hours, my doctor told me. I have four hours max to get to the hospital. I have to have a plug at home so I can plug the hole before it closes. I don't know if that would apply if radation was envolved.

I know the lungs will rebuild themself if you get a small hole in them. Mine got a hole and colapsed twice and repaired them self. Well they had to be kept inflated by the hospital, but they will rebuild.

Hope this might help some.

Bill

LumpinmyThroat said:

Holes

Thanks for the info!  That's crazy how fast the trach hole will close with the plug out!!!!

Unfortunately, I cannot be in Houston for his appointments, so I have to rely on hubby to recapitulate the information from the oncologist to me.  He latches onto anything negative and that's all I get to hear.  I have to take what he tells me as just general information the oncologist was giving him when explaining all of the possible risks and not get myself stirred up about it.  

I'll give you an example of why I believe this: When we were signing the consent forms for the radiation last week, the nurse said she was just going to put "lung cancer" on the thorax consent form for simplification purposes.  When we walked out of the appointment he started getting upset about "having lung cancer now".  I explained that the nurse said she was just writing that on the consent to keep it simple (right in front of him) and he questioned me like he heard an entirely different conversation.  Being the actual patient must be so difficult and it really impacts what info he absorbs from what is actually said.

My gut tells me he ASKED the oncologist about holes and that's what brought such a discussion up in the first place.  I was present for a previous discussion about holes he brought up with another H&N oncologist at MDA (Dr. Fuller).  Fuller said he thought the trachea would be ok... so that's what I'm going to latch onto and believe.

The oncologist also told him he would have a CT in two weeks to check the trachea and make sure it's holding up to treatment.  He gave hubby a 5%-10% risk of death from treatment.  I think those are some fanstastic odds personally...  

 

90-95% chance of survival...pretty good odds! Sorry, I can't help with the question about the trachea, mine was removed before I had radiation. I'm sure MDA deals with this all the time and will keep a close watch.

I'm on your husband's side, the nurse should not have shortcut the system and wrote lung cancer on a consent form.  

Be patient with your husband, he is surely scared right now. Maybe suggest he take a notepad when he meets the doctors in addition to a list of questions he might have. You can help him comprise the list of questions from the concerns he tells you about. When he mentions a negative, have him get the pad out and write the question down right then. That might allow him to move past it a little easier. The experience is overwhelming.  You will both come out stronger on the otherside.

limt, I don't know the answer but wanted to say i'm glad the hubby is started with tx and i hope it goes quickly and smoothly for him.  now that he has started, it should go by rather quick.  we will be on the sidelines cheering him all.  can't wait to hear him ring the bell.  whoop, whoop.  as the patient, sometimes we do only hear the bad stuff.  i think its because we are so scared.  i would ask the nurse tho why she couldn't just use his "real" cancer dx for the form.  I've not heard of using another type of cancer b/c it's easier.  that just doens't make sense.  anyway, wishing you and hubby the best.

God bless you,

dj

patricke said:

COMMUNICATION

When your husband goes for treatment, or check-up visits without you, you might want to consider being included in the discussion via cel speaker phone.  I've done that a couple of times when Diane was unable to be with me, and it has worked out great.  Hang in there.

PATRICK

another idea is to have your hubby take a hand-held tape recorder and record the visit.  that way you can listen to it and come up with your own questions.

good luck,

dj