Face Mask

While you are on a shopping spree add at least one ifared forehead digital thermometer.  If you get a complication it is likely you will spike a fever first.  Mine literally saved my life.  I was also glad we had one of those new smart bloodpressure cuffs, and because I ended up with lung embolisms, a blood/pulse oxygen finger reader.  Add a couple of pill organizers because you will end up owning a lot of different pills.  A spiralbound notebook to collect notes on everything, but especially the name and phone number of all that cross your path.

Chemo is a strange creature.  For what seems like it would be standard, different oncs have strong biases.  Same thing with nutrition tubes and ports.  Mine wouldn't touch Cisplaten, pretty much does only carbol-taxol, almost never does a nutrition tube, and waits quietly until you have been stuck about 50 times before he recommends a PICC line port. 

I'd also be aware of the existence of something called phlegm suction pump.  If you get seriously bad mucusites they make a small suction pump that has a plastic wand you stick in your mouth and suck up crud.  Beats spitting every 2 minutes.  My oncs were so pleased with mine that they now write optional prescription for patients to rent them from Apria or one of the home medicine equipment shops.

Early on I kept asking when the sucky part starts.  For me weeks 1&2 was a cakewalk, week 3 saw mucusites, week 4 was pulmonary embolism and a couple of meeting with the local fire dept. EMTs.  Later I learned that week 3-4 is around average for you to stop wondering when you'll feel bad.

But, I ended up without cancer, reset back to my university period weight (circa 1970s), and was all pissy today because of the length of the lift line at Snowmass this morning. 

Darkdancer333 said:

I have a feeling its going

I have a feeling its going back to Erbitux. On top of everything I didnt want to deal with a rash. 

Dd333,

There are side effects (possible and some permanent) all chemo type drugs.

Matt

Get to know your radiation techs and tell them you are freaked out - they will help!  I ended up sleeping during treatments.  While you are stocking up get some "Throat Coat" tea.  That is the name and you can get it in the coffee and tea isle at most groceries in the herbal tea section.  With honey it saved my life.  Good luck and prayers!

I still have my mask (they gave it to me when treatment ended). I'm not claustrophobic so that wasn't an issue for me. Plus, the center I went to made the radiation experience very comfortable. Nice clean facility that looked like a high end hotel. The techs would greet me with a smile and call me by name. They'd ask how I was doing and if I needed them to request a nurse to meet with me after my treatment. They'd also offer free mouth rinse solutions to take home that were great. Once I was bolted down to the table they'd turn on the music of my choice and turn the lights down. Honestly, I fell asleep most treatments (lasted 15-20 minutes each). 

My only concerns where on days when the mucous was so bad I didn't know if I could lay there for 15 minutes without needing to spit or choke. They told me they could see me on video and if I raised my hand that meant they needed to stop and get the mask off me. That never happened, but it gave me comfort. They'd also let me know when we were down to say 5 minutes and two minutes.

Darkdancer333 said:

on your mask did they have

on your mask did they have the eyes cut out as with nostrils and mouth

They offered, but I declined. No real reason, it just didn't bother me. Has no effect on the radiation itself, so do what is most comfortable.

The best decision I made thouggh was to have my radiation first thing in the morning (7:00-7:30am). It made me get up every morning and I got it over with first thing.

dwp155 said:

Hang in there!

Get to know your radiation techs and tell them you are freaked out - they will help!  I ended up sleeping during treatments.  While you are stocking up get some "Throat Coat" tea.  That is the name and you can get it in the coffee and tea isle at most groceries in the herbal tea section.  With honey it saved my life.  Good luck and prayers!

Hey dwp I thx for your comment. You said you slept during treatments. What meds were you taking? My fitting is soon and I have no meds for that. Kinda freating me out.

Suez39 said:

Face mask

I'm a newbie to this site. Any good suggestions on how to overcome the fear of getting a mask fitting? Appt tomorrow and feel real netvous! Ugh.. 

 

 

 

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For me it was no big deal - I just chalked it up to "yet another new experience."

I talked to some people that were prescribed a mild anti-anxiety drug they took prior to their mask fitting.

I just closed my eyes, went to sleep and hoped I didn't drool.

Suez39 said:

Face mask

Did anyone just have the nose and mouth cut outs? If so did that help?

 

 

I had holes for my eyes, nose, and mouth.  It was done without me asking.  I had to have a hole for my mouth because they used upper and lower mouthguards that were put in my mouth after the mask was attached.

Meant eye slits. Typing fast cause very thirsty and getting something to drink!