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Last radiation treatment today

MICH4EL
MICH4EL CSN Member Posts: 73
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I've been out of touch for awhile, surviving my treatment, but today I received my last radiation treatment and had them throw the g#*!  mask away.  I received Amifostene/Ethyol shots throughout and still have good saliva production.....although I can't taste anything.  I have bad radiation burn on my neck ....I guess I didn't use Aloe and Aquaphor consistently enough.   I lost too much weight but avoided needing a PEG, so far.   I'm told it will be another week or two before I start noticing feeling bettter, but at least the radiation is done now.  It was tougher than I anticipated, but also went faster than expected.

M

 

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Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 CSN Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    WHOO HOO Michael!!

    Now you don't have to get up and go somewhere every single day....that was a huge relief for me.  You made it all thru the Amifostine, too.....GOOD FOR YOU!!  That stuff is tough. 

    Now put your dancing shoes on, and whirl your wife around the kitchen....it's a tradition!! LOL

    p

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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 CSN Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Rose Garden...

    No body promised you a rose garden, LOL... Just teasin, it's an azz kicker for sure..., and the Amifostine just makes it even a little tougher.

    Awesome news, congrats...

    Like you said, you still have a few weeks of crap to deal with... But the mental power of knowing you are done is huge..., tap on that.

    Best ~ John

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  • CherieLW
    CherieLW CSN Member Posts: 472
    #4
    Great news! !  How recovery

    Great news! !  How recovery is twice as fast! 

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  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa CSN Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #5
    You Made It!

    Michael,

    Congrats! I have to ask some of the veterans but I believe we graduate from "newbie" status when we finish treatment ;)

    Ok.... hang on just a little bit longer. The next couple of weeks are going to be rough but you will get better. It took every bit of three weeks for me to turn the corner. I'm doing much better at 7 weeks out. Keep using the cream on your neck. It should heal up within a week or so. 

    I kept my mask. I have plans for it... hehehe... Can't bame you for trashing yours!

    Feel better soon!

    Positive thoughts and prayers

    "T"

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  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 CSN Member Posts: 839
    #6
    That's AWESOME!

     

    I am so very happy for you!  Congrats!!!

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  • hwt
    hwt CSN Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #7
    TracyLynn72 said:

    That's AWESOME!

     

    I am so very happy for you!  Congrats!!!

    Congrats!

    Let the healing begin! T, I think you are still officially under our wing until the after burners shut down....John will have to correct me on that if I am wrong :-) 

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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt CSN Member Posts: 4,725 Member
    #8
    finished

    M,

    Congratulations!

    I rang my bell for you, it made my wife and the cat look at me.

    If the burn is bad try some silver sulfadizine cream, it works measurably better than Aquaphor (been there done that).

    Matt

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  • hawk711
    hawk711 CSN Member Posts: 566
    #9
    CivilMatt said:

    finished

    M,

    Congratulations!

    I rang my bell for you, it made my wife and the cat look at me.

    If the burn is bad try some silver sulfadizine cream, it works measurably better than Aquaphor (been there done that).

    Matt

    Too Funny about the mask

    I threw my mask away too.!!!  never wanted to see that thing again.  I'd have run over it with my car if I had to take it with me when I left!

    Congrats on getting past the toughest part, RADS.  Now be patient and all this crap will get better, trust me on this.  Not quickly, but slowly gets better.

    All the best Steve

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  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 CSN Member Posts: 1,037 Member
    #10
    Skiffin16 said:

    Rose Garden...

    No body promised you a rose garden, LOL... Just teasin, it's an azz kicker for sure..., and the Amifostine just makes it even a little tougher.

    Awesome news, congrats...

    Like you said, you still have a few weeks of crap to deal with... But the mental power of knowing you are done is huge..., tap on that.

    Best ~ John

    John, I couldn't help myself.......

    image

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  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 CSN Member Posts: 1,037 Member
    #11
    Outstanding News M

    Michael,

    Outstanding news, as the others stated, the next few weeks will be a bit bumpy and then you start to turn the corner. Measure your improvements in weeks, not days.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 CSN Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    MarineE5 said:

    John, I couldn't help myself.......

    image

    Marine Humor

    LOL, so you know where at least some of my Abi-Normal humor stems from... Humor only another from the Corps could ummm appreciate...

    JG

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  • peggylulu
    peggylulu CSN Member Posts: 375
    #13
    Congratulations

    Mich4el , on finishing your treatments ! Now the healing can begin ! I too threw away my Mask , I didn't want to see it or think about it again ! I hope you feel better soon.

    Peggy

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  • katenorwood
    katenorwood CSN Member Posts: 1,912
    #14
    great news Michael !

    I've been wondering how you were doing !  Time to sit back and let the healing begin.  Please keep us posted how you're doing now and then.  Katie

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  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 CSN Member Posts: 760 Member
    #15
    Way to go

    Great milestone and one to be proud of. Get better so you can celebrate later at one of your favorite places. I agree the treatments are rough but they do seem to come and go quickly. Again, way to go now the recoop begins.

    Take care

          Jeff

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  • robswife87
    robswife87 CSN Member Posts: 209
    #16
    Job well done

    Hoping the best for you.

    Rob finished 1.5 weeks ago and it has been rougher now than before. Hoping he starts to turn a corner soon. I think the mucous is starting to let up but his tongue is still hot mess.

    Wishing you the best.

    Sandy

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  • MICH4EL
    MICH4EL CSN Member Posts: 73
    #17
    Thanks, everyone

    Thanks for all your nice comments.  This discussion board was a tremendous help to me in preparing for and undergoing treatment.  I will do my best to return the favor to those who are coming after me. 

    M

     

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  • Laralyn
    Laralyn CSN Member Posts: 532
    #18
    Congrats!

    Now you can get some rest and focus on recovery. It's a great feeling being done! :-)

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  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K CSN Member Posts: 813
    #19
    MICH4EL said:

    Thanks, everyone

    Thanks for all your nice comments.  This discussion board was a tremendous help to me in preparing for and undergoing treatment.  I will do my best to return the favor to those who are coming after me. 

    M

     

    YIPPEE

    Mike

    CONGRATS on being done with rads.  That is a huge milestone.

    One of my most memorable days in all of this was the last day of radiation.

    Sending you my best wishes for a speedy recovery from here on out.

     

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  • cadharose
    cadharose CSN Member Posts: 52 Member
    #20
    Congratulations. I'm glad to

    Congratulations. I'm glad to hear you're done. It sounds like you're doing well. I'm a little envious, but my last day is right around the corner - June 24th! I can't wait to know just how you feel.

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  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz CSN Member Posts: 465 Member
    #21
    MICH4EL said:

    Thanks, everyone

    Thanks for all your nice comments.  This discussion board was a tremendous help to me in preparing for and undergoing treatment.  I will do my best to return the favor to those who are coming after me. 

    M

     

    Slow but steady

    Congrats on finishing your rads!  Keep in mind that from here on it will be a slow, but steady, recovery.  Two small steps forward, one step back.  It helped me to gauge my recovery by the week, not by the day--and to understand that setbacks are just part of the process.  Set some realistic goals for getting back to health, but don't put a timeline on them.  That just increases the stress and frustration.  Best wishes as you enter this new stage of life as a cancer survivor.

    Mike

     

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