Side effects of radiation and chemo how long does it all last for like a week?

Sabrina23 said:

a little more information

I meant to say how long does the radiation and chemo treatments last like a week or does it go on for like a month or two? I have never been thru this before so it is all new scary and completely devastating to comprehend.  I am doing my best to carry on but need so much support I am finding that out by being here on these boards.  I am just full of questions and wanting to know so please forgive me if I have repeated myself or become verbose it is not my intent.  I am sorry.  Please bare with me and any information you can share would be much appreciated. 

No one can predict your hospital stay because there are too many variables to consider and no one knows the outcome of your surgery. However, this is not an outpatient thing so expect to stay at least 3 days if all goes well. The drain tube gets taken out when you will be discharged. If you want to know, they simply slide it out of your neck. Sorry for the visual but that's how it was done both times in my case.

Because of your size, think about high calorie supplements such as Boost and Ensure to help you maintain and/or gain weight. I was only 160 lbs before surgery and lost about 10 lbs after. I gained weight before treatments (docs advised that) and then lost it after treatment ended. Altogether, I lost about 20-25 lbs over the course of both treatments. I have since gained it all back but it was slow going. I have a fast metabolism and was never a weight gainer.

You got this!

Immediate advice, eat anything and everything you love in mass quantities, now. Really really eat, stretch that waistline!

Next as Steve said, treatment varies from person to person, part of it is your cancer, and part of it is your attitude.

I said I was superwoman, and my armor got a little dented, but it held out.

Usually chemo with radiation, the chemo boosts the radiation, makes it more effective. Afterall, you want to kill this thing in one go, right? Its probably going to be 35 treatments, about 7 weeks of daily treatments, I leaned the hard way, you dont want to go early morning to get it out of the way, go late, so you can go home  and sleep! (I always wondered why the early slots were open)

Chemo, I opted for the 3 big ones, not the weekly ones, because I figured if I was going to be sick, I only wanted to have 3 really bad weeks, and not 6, as it was, I ended up with only 2, and they wern't so bad. My Drs had me on a tight regiment, of steroids for 3 days, and 2 kinds of anti nausea meds, that I didnt really need - may have to do with the stomach and allergy meds I take daily.

ok, other stuff, good eats are things like boost or ensure (I hated ensure) get the igh protein one, mix in blender with a couple of scoops of ice cream, and something like carnation instant breakfast (around 900 calories)

Hair - you will probably lose hair below your ears across the back, I did, i must have looked awful with shoulder length stringy hair covering my bald bits, but it has grown back.

Surgery - I got to go home same day, again, it varies from person to person (operation etc) Drains.. were.. just there. Good garment to have is a jobst neck thing, to take swelling down after.

Say yes to the portal, (central line) it beats getting stuck every time. - make sure you get either magic mouthwash, or lidocaine mouthwash

Think thats it for now, ask anything, everyone has awesome advice and recommendations!