| | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 | 2 weeks down and on the road to feeling better for my husband. First chemo treatment brought nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, change in taste, and a very sore mouth. Also to date he's lost 15 pounds. I'm very concerned about that big of a weight loss in such a short amount of time. He has one more week off before doing it again, chemo #2.
Diane-wife to Paul, age 55
DX 9/17/12
HPV/SCC/BOT Stage 4a
Non-smoker/casual drinker
Otherwise healthy
9/24/12 Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU - 3x
12/3/12 Rad x 35/Carboplatin x 3
1/15/13 DVT upper thigh
Passed away 1/23/13
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | That's a lot of weight. Is he heavier and has it to lose? If not, somehow he has to start getting more calories. Either way it's not good because it's muscle they lose, not fat. Protein. Kevin ate scrambled eggs every morning. Even when they tasted like crap. They still slid down ok.
Kathy
Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | 2nd Chemo usually worse to much worse than the first assuming he's also receiving daily rads. Must consume 3000 cals and 48 osz water each and every day. It will be harder to do that shortly so it's best to get in that practice early on.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 | Kathy- He does have the weight to lose as he's been very overweight for quite awhile. He usually has a couple of protein drinks during the day made with fresh fruit a protein powder in addition to homemade soups. He got his appetite back on Saturday, but today its gone again. His chest feels funny like he has a chill in it. Little to no fever though. I was so hoping he'd have a good week.
Diane-wife to Paul, age 55
DX 9/17/12
HPV/SCC/BOT Stage 4a
Non-smoker/casual drinker
Otherwise healthy
9/24/12 Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU - 3x
12/3/12 Rad x 35/Carboplatin x 3
1/15/13 DVT upper thigh
Passed away 1/23/13
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 | David- He hasn't starting rads yet. Not until after 3rd chemo. That's why I'm so concerned. It's only been one chemo so far.
Diane-wife to Paul, age 55
DX 9/17/12
HPV/SCC/BOT Stage 4a
Non-smoker/casual drinker
Otherwise healthy
9/24/12 Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU - 3x
12/3/12 Rad x 35/Carboplatin x 3
1/15/13 DVT upper thigh
Passed away 1/23/13
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | Maybe they, Paul and Kevin, lost more quickly because they had it to lose? It will be in the form of muscle though, so get him eating protein somehow. Like the scrambled eggs. Heck, he could plug his nose and slide em down!!
Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I don't have any experience with chemo only as the first part of Tx but I have to think the 2nd will be harder to take than the first. Is the chemo Cisplatin? It would be helpful if you update your Signature Line to include more details.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 | Thank you David. I just updated it.
Diane-wife to Paul, age 55
DX 9/17/12
HPV/SCC/BOT Stage 4a
Non-smoker/casual drinker
Otherwise healthy
9/24/12 Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU - 3x
12/3/12 Rad x 35/Carboplatin x 3
1/15/13 DVT upper thigh
Passed away 1/23/13
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 51 | Off to ER with hubby. Bad chills and fever yesterday of 101.5. Feels better today but still has 101 fever. Doc want him in ER.
Diane-wife to Paul, age 55
DX 9/17/12
HPV/SCC/BOT Stage 4a
Non-smoker/casual drinker
Otherwise healthy
9/24/12 Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU - 3x
12/3/12 Rad x 35/Carboplatin x 3
1/15/13 DVT upper thigh
Passed away 1/23/13
| | | | | 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 | Hope everything is ok!
Nutrition is a HUGE part of this and will affect his health more than anyone ever thinks. Its all about nutrition, the better the hydration and nutrition, the easier this will be for him. Every single day he MUST take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. With losing so much weight so quickly he will begin to feel awful, if he hasnt already begun to feel very sick. I am a broken record about nutrition and hydration as I landed in the hospital several times for malnutrition and dehydration. I honestly thought I was dying I felt so bad.
Does Paul have a PEG tube? If not you may want to have him consider this tool or a nasal tube for a more temporary measure. I hated having a feeding tube but it was necessary to help me take in enough.
Please keep us posted about the ER visit. Hoping everything is ok!!!
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  | | |
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