It is definitely a well-laid plan your treatment team has laid out for you.
With plenty of testing and verification ahead of that.
The best plan is to take one day at a time.
For now, it's easy to be a multitask person but as the treatment beats you up one day at a time may look good.
Hopefully, you won't feel as bad as some but just prepare yourself.
Things to prepare for the possibility of are tiredness, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, thick mucous in your mouth, etc.
This is not to scare ya just prepare ya.
Check with your team more and they can give you a heads up as per your treatment regimen what to prepare for.
This is rough treatment just to let you know.
Not early on but 3-5 weeks in you start feeling the effects or somewhere around then.
But not to worry you can do this as many before you have.
We are here to help as well as we can so lean on us.
Please check out the Superthread at the top of the page-loads of info in there.
And at some point, you will end up with thickening, very thick saliva so you will need to rinse as often as necessary
with a salt/baking soda solution to stay ahead of it.
Mouth care will be very important now and for the rest of your life as an H&N survivor.
So I am wishing you the best and we are here to help.
And most importantly Pray a lot and trust in God.
The recipe for the salt solution is below.
And communication on mouth care during treatment from a hospital.
Take Care-God Bless-Russ

Mouth Rinse Recipes to Use During Chemotherapy

Soda and Salt Mouth Rinse

1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup of warm water

Mix well until salt dissolves. Rinse your mouth gently, being careful not to swallow the mixture. Follow this with a plain water rinse to clean out any remaining salt or soda.

Soda Mouth Rinse: A Good Rinse for Before You Eat

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup of warm water

Mix well to dissolve the baking soda. This is a good rinse to use before and after a meal because it may soothe any mucositis pain you have, making it easier for you to eat well. Swish and spit, but don't swallow this mixture.

Saltwater Mouth Rinse

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup of warm water

Mix well to dissolve the salt. This saltwater rinse is close to the natural chemistry of your own saliva. This may make mouth sores feel better. Rinse well with plain water to remove excess salt.

Salt and Soda Rinse for Gummy Mouth

Some chemotherapy drugs can increase the acidity in your mouth, leading to thick saliva that can be very annoying. This rinse works well for "gummy mouth."

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons baking soda
4 cups of warm water

This rinse will help to neutralize the acid in your mouth and will help dissolve or loosen thick, gummy saliva. Don't drink it, just rinse and spit it out.

Peroxide Rinse for Crusted Sores

If your mouth sores are crusting over, it's important to allow the natural healing process in your body to continue, so a peroxide rinse should be used for no more than two days consecutively.

1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1 cup water or
1 cup salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in 4 cups of water)

Mouth Care during Chemotherapy and/or Radiation Therapy
Patient Education

Mouth Care during Chemotherapy and/or Radiation Therapy
Patient Education
Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy is meant to damage or kill fast-growing cancer cells;
however, normal cells can also be fast-growing and can be damaged by these treatments. The
lining of your mouth, throat, tongue, and gums are often affected by these treatments causing
tender gums, mouth sores, soreness in the throat, and possible pain or bleeding in the mouth
and throat. This is called mucositis.
Approximately 40% of people with cancer develop symptoms of mucositis. Most people will
begin developing symptoms about two weeks after treatment starts. Symptoms may get worse
during treatment, but they will slowly get better when treatment is over.
Full prevention of these symptoms may not be possible, but there are ways to decrease the
intensity of symptoms. Here are some techniques to decrease symptoms of mucositis.
Keep Mouth and Teeth Clean:
Gently brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride
toothpaste.
If your mouth hurts, use an oral sponge swab (toothette) instead of a toothbrush and
clean your mouth after each meal and at bedtime.
Rinse your mouth well.
Floss at least once a day, unless your physician tells you otherwise.
Do not floss if this is painful for you.
Homemade Mouthwash: Baking Soda/Salt Rinse
Recipe: Mix one quart (4 cups) of water with one teaspoon salt and one teaspoon baking
soda.
Swish and gargle well for 15 to 30 seconds and then spit out.
If you have a mild sore mouth, rinse every 2 to 3 hours.
You may be advised to increase rinses to once every hour if your mouth is very sore.
You may also dip your oral sponge swabs in this for cleaning your teeth if toothpaste
irritates your mouth.
Stanford Mouthwash (prescription required)
Swish and gargle well for 15 to 30 seconds and then spit out.
Use as prescribed by your physician.
Fluoride Toothpaste/Mouthwash
Avoid commercial mouthwashes that contain alcohol as they may burn your mouth.
If you have dentures, a bridge, or a dental prosthesis, remove and clean your prosthesis
each time you clean your mouth.
Leave your prosthesis out while you sleep.
If your mouth becomes irritated, keep your prosthesis out of your mouth as much as
you can.
To Decrease Dryness:
Biotene (alcohol-free) mouthwash can be used to decrease dry mouth.
When using Biotene, be sure wait at least 30 minutes after use until you eat, drink,
or use any other mouth care products.
This product will not work as well to decrease dryness, if anything else is used or
put in your mouth before 30 minutes.
Artificial saliva is available over the counter in many pharmacies.
This product may be used as often as necessary and may be swallowed.
Use a humidifier at home, especially at night.
Be sure to change the water of the humidifier daily and clean as directed.
To Lessen Pain and Soreness:
Eat small and frequent meals focusing on high calorie and protein foods. Liquid nutrition
supplements can also be helpful.
Aim to have something high in calorie and/or protein every 2 hours if you cannot
tolerate larger meals.
Avoid spicy, dry, and/or coarse foods.
Avoid acidic or citrus fruits and juices as they may irritate your mouth when you
have more sores.
Eat soft, moist, bland foods taken in small bites and chewed well.
Use sauces and gravy to soften food and increase calories, if needed.
Drink at least 2 to 3 quarts of water and non-irritating drinks (such as sports drinks.) Take
frequent sips of liquids throughout the day.
You may find it helpful to carry a bottle with you.
Use a water based lip balm to prevent lips from drying and cracking.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chew.
These are very irritating and drying to a sore mouth.
When to Contact your Doctor or Nurse:
If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
If you are unable to eat or swallow due to pain.
If your current pain medication is not helping or your pain is getting worse.
If you have severe nausea and vomiting which you cannot keep anything you eat or drink
down
If you notice white patches in your mouth.
If your gums or mouth bleed longer than usual or will not stop bleeding.

Well, you get started, tomorrow...

Treatment can certainly be a challenge, so I'm glad you have a strong, positive spirit!

Just remember - it's a process you pass through, and you'll be looking back on it, sooner than you think...

MG

I got the Road Glide out for a bit, this weekend. It's cool out, in Idaho!..

I posted it here in the forum ..I titled the subject with your name ... but here is another link.  Thank you for asking.  It deals more with your life than your cancer .. you had mentioned in your initial post about not wanting to be the topic of dicussion.  

I ask you to please cosnider "subscribing" (free) to my HNC cancer channel so you get alerted for future videos.  I often use topics and people's issues I read about here to create new ones. Also, liking , commenting, and subscribing helps them be found when other folks are doing searches for info.  thank you.

Don

https://youtu.be/szQXHzwxf1Y

I did it all, with only my son knowing, basically because I didn't want the "look"

I have learned, when someone tells you they are sick/have C.. dont say "I'm sorry" say "what can I do to help? what do you need?"

Dang, buddy - 36 degrees this morning in Idaho. I may not be able to get a bike out, this weekend. 

I hope it's nicer weather, where you're at - and you're able to get out a bit.

By the way, chemo can affect people in different ways, so be careful riding, until you know how it may impact you, temporarily.

I want you to be SAFE on that Harley!

MG

Hello Jaime61,

Thank you for writing me.

No discharge yet because today a new test result showed that I have a new lung infection , on top of the one I was admitted for. And this one is worse because its drug resistent.

Well, my IV just failed... Its been in my right arm many days and now its blown the vein.  After. Being in many days. Looks awful...

I just had a 12 lead EKG, a few minutes ago because I became very short of breath this morning,  right in front of my 7 doctor team of Pulmonary docs. They had to hold me up to keep me from falling, so now I have a Fall Risk band on as well. More tests to come.

Switching my antibiotics. My Pulmonary team is now officially very worried.  Its a drug resistant infection.

It can easily take me out. I'm 70 pounds today.

Trying to beat one , and got hit with a new one, Not Good!

Thank you Jaime.

Keep us informed of your road ahead.  Also, please stay safe, as well. 

Drive on babe

CrystalJ

Suz and Crystal make a great point. I personally wasn't shy about telling people about my Cancer - and I was AMAZED at the offers for help that I got!!

(I recall a lady a little older than me, picked me up to take me to a chemo treatment. She said her night vision wasn't that good - so I drove TO the early morning appointment (and she drove me home)).

We both still laugh about that!!

Anyway, bud - you're into your first week, and I suspect you're kicking butt. The effects are a bit "cumulative", though - so be prepared. 

As I've mentioned, you seem like a very hardy, positive person. I'd have trouble believing that anything keeps you down for very long!!

MG