Any regrets?

my dad is a couple weeks ahead of your husband. (Week 4 starts Monday)-- judging from your past post, I think he's on the same treatment plan too-- 35 rads, 7 cisplatin infusions... He said the same thing, "I think the treatment is going to be worse than the disease" and I think he was probably right, but I also think he was referencing the pain he'll feel during treatment and the potential side effects after...  He knows the alternative has a much more grim outlook, and I know that when he gets across the finish line and healing begins, he won't regret having the opportunity to see his grandchildren grow up, and experience all the beautiful things coming up in his life Post-cancer. We are so thankful that this treatmeant has an end in sight, and a cure! and even though we know there's some rough days ahead, it's so nice to have hope for when treatment ends! just gotta stay hopeful and encouraged long enough to get there!! We're already noticing his lymph node shrinking Which we of course love to see!  

good luck to you and your husband!! I'll be praying for y'all!! 

I have had head & neck cancer twice.  In 2007, it was tonsil - with surgery, radiation, and chemo.  During the treatment, I certainly wanted to quit and regetted started.  But, my doctor's did give me a week off - two times - in the 6 week treatment plan.  That certainly helped.  I didn't start really healing until I saw a new primary care doc, and he put me on anti-depressants.  It was just what I needed (and I was on them for a year)

Cancer 2 was hypopharnx in 2014 and resulted in a total laryngectomy.  Surgery only.  Very hard making the adjustmest to my new life.  But, life is good, and I do not regret any of the treatments I have received.  Today, I spent the morning with my 3 year old granddaughter at the bead store - and then making jewelry for her with beads that she chose!

Lorna 2007 & 2014

Jim wonders if he made the right decision, if the pain he has now and the medications he takes to control it are what his life will be from now on.  We have a strong faith so we don't fear death and what it will bring.

But not fighting was not really an option.  Not only was it not presented as one, it was not one Jim would have considered at the time.

Remind your husband everyone gets tired during treatment, everyone wonders.  There is no way to know the outcome of treatment until you get there.

Kent Cass said:

NJMOM

Years ago someone entered in a post what they'd either read, or heard from a C Dr.- that H&N treatment is the 2nd-harshest C treatment there is, though the success rate is one of the best. Only treatment for rectal C is worse. One must understand that such is a generalized statement/opinion, because H&N treatment regimes differ, just as all of our Cs are different to whatever degree.

SO, WHAT MATT SAID IS CORRECT- time to man-up and get tough. Your husband's C has only one plan, and that's to kill him. And, trust me, death due to H&N C is a very ugly death. I lost a Cousin to what turned out to be Esophageal, and words to describe his last few weeks would make any of us sick to hear. It's a no-gloves fight in the ring, and his opponent has only one, forementioned, thing in mind.

That said- YES, it is worth it. I'm 6 years and almost 4 months post-tx. My tx regime was somewhat extreme, and my Chemo Dr put me on Morph at the start of week #2; and I was too sick to get any rads in weeks 5&6, spending the first 4 nights of week-6 in the hospital. So for me it was a bit of a hellish ride from the end of week #1 thru week #6, but I turned the car around during week-6 in the hospital, and it all got easier for me the last couple weeks of rads. After treatment it'll take awhile to get back to where he wants to be, but it will happen if his tx does get rid of the C. I returned to work a month after my last rad, and in 4 months came to realize I could eat most anything I wanted. It is definitely worth it. 

Best mindset is "Come what may," and keep it in the Positive in regards to all thoughts present and future:

Believe

kcass

Like everyone said, it is!!!! 

this forum is a blessing and i hope you receive as much support as we did here. Though, I understand what you mean. When my husband started treatment I read every single post here. I wanted to know what to expect and I wanted to get tips and helpful strategies. I got all that here. Though, there were many times when I had to STOP reading because the fear/worry/dread became overwhelming.  So as awesome as this forum is, don't visit us too often when you start feeling this way. 

Also, your husband won't experience every single thing and side effect we mention here. We did not experience many of the things folks mention and experience others that were not mentioned that much. Hopefully he gets to be one of the folks that have an "easier" experience. 

I never had to do chemo or radiation, I just had to have my voice [Larynx] removed and neck dissection on both sides. They cut me from ear to ear and removed 86 glands, and now I breath through my neck. If that was not done I would not be here to answer any questions. You see, only five persons [and that counts me and the docter] ever thought they would see me again and I would not make it. I can't smell so food is different and the odds of getting pneumonia is very high.

Just two day's ago I read that Head & Neck is the second hardest and worse, treatment to go through. Only Leukemia was worse to go through.  We Have good survival rates in general; Thyroid is 97.7% Oral is 62% Laryngeal is 60.6% but esophageal is only at 17.3% but these are in general and not really that accurate. I had Laryngeal and they got it all and it never spread so my numbers go way up to about 75% to 80% maybe even higher.. These are in general as it did spread or had an unknown primary. So we don't really look at numbers, I look at the results that I wake up each day, and I would not other wise. They did put in a prothesis so I still can speak and It has been a big change in my life. For me, I am now a better person as I do see life much different. My wife and I just cellabrated our 40th anniversary and had to fight this beast for her, and my children.

So much has to do with quality of life and how you accept it. I still have a good quality of life, so I'm good with my dicission. I hope this helps some. You can always ckick on my name and you go to my page and look at expressions, to get the full story. 

Bill

From the moment I was diagnosed I came out swinging and i have to admit towards the end of treatment I was at the point I didn't think I could take any more but that was more because I knew I was at the end of the chemo/radiation and that was how many treatments i was prepared to take.

Like many on the site I knew my long term prospect was good once I finished treatment and the survival rate was pretty high.  I just had to get through the chemo/radiation and it was rough but doable and I had a friend who had gone through something similar (like the many on the site but I didn't find this site until later).  

the "hellish ride" as you put it is exactly that... about as tough of a ride as he/you will ever take but now I'm two years out and NED as of June of this year, it was absolutely worth every second of it.   most of it now is a distant memory and I am pretty much back to where I was before I started.  A couple of little side effects but nothing I can't live with and do basically whatever I want.  I still have a problem eating spicy food and a little dry mouth at night but I am alive and well and really celebrating my new (and first) 5 month old granddauther.

It was absolutely worth every second of misery to be where I am today.   Looking back, the treatment went quick and is but a short blip in the road of life.  going through it at the time it just drug on forever but no regrets.

he can do this... he (and you) have to get mentally prepared for some very rough times but it will pass fast and then the body can start to heal.

Stay strong and fight hard!  It is definitely worth it!

All the best,

Keith