| | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 3 | Hi everyone, this sort of thing is new to me. I'm a nurse anesthetist in PA and my father who is 74 has been diagnosed with palate/nasopharyngeal cancer. We saw the ENT doctor yesterday and he feels that surgery is not a viable option due to the size of the mass and the difficulties he will suffer post op resection. We will be doing radiation 5x week for 5-7 weeks, with 3 doses chemo during the course of treatment. As a CRNA I am quite use to evaluating patients airways, but I was so shocked and upset when I saw this huge mass in the back of his throat. I am trying to be optomistic, but I am concerned about the treatments and side effects. Glad to be here and hopeful I can gain some insight and useful information from all of you! | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF Kathy! You have found the very best website to help you and your father get thru this. I am also from PA, the Allentown area.
Radiation will help to shrink the tumor so that if your father would need surgery later it would not be so drastic. My situation was similar with my doc's suggesting rads/chemo first in hopes of avoiding a major surgery.
There are many things your father should do before his treatments begin.
1 If he will be getting cisplatin, it is known to cause hearing loss. Please make sure he gets a hearing test and reports any differences immediately. Once the hearing is affected, it cant be reversed.
2 Make sure he takes someone along to appointments to be an extra set of ears. Some tape record their doctor sessions so they can go back and replay it so they dont miss anything.
3 Eat! Push him to eat all his favorites now and to try to bulk up a little. Most of us have lost significant amounts of weight even with using feeding tubes. His sense of taste and ability to swallow could be compromised with radiation so its best to go into this without any cravings.
4 Feeding tubes. It is a very helpful tool to keep his strength up thru out treatments. Some swear by it while others avoid it like the plague. Personally, I needed it and used it but still suffered and lost 65 pounds.
5 We are all different. Learn this and repeat it over and over. You will see many horror stories online. Everyone handles this in their own unique way. Some suffer while others sail right thru. Nutrition will play a HUGE role in how well your father does.
6 Take notes. I would take a business card from every single doctor I saw and staple it inside the back cover of my notebook. That way if I needed one of the doctors, all I had to do was go to the back cover of my notebook.
7 Bloodwork. Get a detailed blood count including thyroid. You should have a baseline to go by that is from before treatments started.
8 Network. Everyone who says they will help and asks what they can do write down their name and number. Tell them when the time comes you will let them know how they can help. It isnt easy going thru treatments but it can be done. Many caregivers can use a break so having a network of helpers can be very useful down the road. Even if its just to pick up some groceries or meds from the pharmacy. Maybe someone could walk the dog (if you have one), do a load of laundry or drive your father a couple days to treatment.
9 Call the American Cancer Society. They can get volunteer drivers, help pay for medicines or even for travel expenses you incur while taking your dad to treatments.
10 Get second or third opinions at a large cancer center. This should be # 1 priority! It can make a huge difference in your fathers treatment.
Best wishes with everything you and your father are facing!
Last edited by ChristineB; 01-27-2012 06:54 AM.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Everything Christine said was great advice!!! So I'm just going to welcome you! Sorry you have to be here but it's a great support system! Good luck and take care. With rads and chemo it's one day at a time.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 3 | Thank you so much for the advice and encouragement! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Kathy, welcome and sorry you have to be here. But it sounds as if your father is getting great care. I know it must be a great comfort for him to have you on and at his side.
I'll be sending all my positive vibes your way.
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 3 | Thank you David, glad to see you are well! | | |
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