Dad starts off the new year ringing the bell!

Katie10485
Katie10485 Member Posts: 41
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Dad finished radiation treatment yesterday at MSKCC and got to ring the bell!

I'm so happy to know this phase is over for him and he can now move forward in recovery.

He did 30 radiation treatments (SCC BOT HPV+ with lymph node involvement, clear margins after modified radical neck dissection and tongue surgery, tonsils were also removed and clear).

I do not know what stage of cancer he officially had, I think it was 3 or 4.  I am now praying for the best and will anxiously await the first scan.  How soon does that typically happen?

He lost a lot of weight but the doctors have advised to keep protein count high so he has been focusing on that.  Doctor said that he did remarkably well throughout treatment and his mental stamina was to credit for that.  Any advice on this next phase in the journey welcome!

 

Happy New Year to everyone and thank you all for your help and guidance thus far.

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    Whoo Hoo for dad!!

    Ringing the bell and knowing I didn't have to suit up and leave home every single day was a relief to me....this next couple of weeks will be tough, but then he's going to start noticing a slow difference in how he feels.

    The first scan is usually about 12 weeks out of the end of treatment...

    p

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #3
    finished

    Katie,

    Time to celebrate and recover.

    Scan +/- 12 weeks

    Next phase is  recovery and an introduction to the “new normal”.

    Heal on,

    Matt

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #4
    Oh, RING THAT BELL...........

    Very happy to hear he got to ring the bell. I had surgery only so I never had another PET scan. Only had check up every two months for the first year. The others will be able to answer that for you.

    Congradulations again, do a little dance as well.

    Bill

  • patricke
    patricke Member Posts: 570 Member
    #5
    RING IN!

    Hey Katie, 

    CONGRATULATIONS to your dad for finishing radiation treatment; that's a huge hurdle, and a great way to Ring In the New Year!  Recovery is a lot about patience, perserverance, and adaptiveness in the process of creating a new normal.      

     

  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #6
    Fantastic news!

    Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #7
    Katie, congrats to you and

    Katie, congrats to you and your dad!!  what a great way to start the new year.  praying for a smooth recovery and that he is back to living life in full very soon.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #8
    debbiejeanne said:

    Katie, congrats to you and

    Katie, congrats to you and your dad!!  what a great way to start the new year.  praying for a smooth recovery and that he is back to living life in full very soon.

    God bless you,

    dj

    Congrats to your Dad!

    Hard part is now in his rearview mirror.  I was told the first few weeks after tx could be tough but I actually saw steady improvement starting the very first week. Hope the same for your Dad.

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
    Dear old Dad

    Wonderful news to hear that your Dad made the finish line, I like how Matt put it recovery and an introduction to the new normal will be his next phase.

     

    Tim

  • Katie10485
    Katie10485 Member Posts: 41
    #10
    Hondo said:

    Dear old Dad

    Wonderful news to hear that your Dad made the finish line, I like how Matt put it recovery and an introduction to the new normal will be his next phase.

     

    Tim

    thanks!!

    Thanks guys!!! I am so glad he made it to the finish line and know it will continue to be tough for a while.  I'll continue keeping you all updated.

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