| Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | Hello guys I am back. Joyce just had her 2nd chemo last week with an interval of 24 days. Her treatment is very conservative due to her kidneys (last stage before dialysis). She is having a hard time after treatment #2 and extremely weak even after 10 days of treatment. Her next treatment is scheduled in January depending on her strength. Kindly let me know if this is something you have experienced or heard of - extremely conservative treatment of one a month and only 3.
Thanks to all and keep Joyce in your prayers
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014 A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
| | | | 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 | What exactly is her current treatment? Maybe update your Signature Line.
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: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | Hello David, Unfortunately the only thing I know is that she had first treatment of chemotherapy November 12 and the next one was given December 13. They did not follow the 21 day treatment because her blood count was so low.
CURRENT UPDATE WITHIN THE LAST HOUR FOR SISTER-IN-LAW: Just spoke to her, she had to reschedule her appt. She is so weak, she cannot get out of bed. Her whole body aches and she cannot sleep. She also has a cold and cough, but she said that this is in her list of side effects. The appt. has been rescheduled for December 27.
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014 A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | They may be using chemo as maintenance chemo, palliation, pain management, not for curative intent, since it's usually not given alone for SCCHN, but they are given alone as induction chemo before treatment, as adjunct therapy, as a radiosensitizer before or during radiation, and to reduce tumor size before surgery, radiation, if any of these are planned. There are chemo's like Carboplatin that don't effect the kidneys as much as well as Erbitux, others, but don't know if these are being given. Low WBC makes you susceptible to illness, and infection, and usually give Neupogen shots to help increase WBC, but they also make the bones, and joints ache. Maybe your MIL should go to the ER to get checked out being she is so weak, and there could be a multiple of things wrong. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | 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 | Ina, so sorry to hear Joyce isnt doing very well. Best thing to do is to push the hydration as much as possible. A minimum of 48 oz daily, in her situation with kidney issues 60 oz a day probably would be much better for a minimum. Nutrition must be difficult for her right now. If she is able to take in enough nutrition and hydration she will feel a little better. The hospital should be able to get her hydrated in the chemo lab with a doctors prescription. At least thats how its done here. She would feel much better being hydrated so please pass that along to your caregiver relatives.
Best wishes with everything!!! 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: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | Hello Christine and all thanks for your reply!!
I have a question about treatment. Can my mother-in-law be treated with chemo and NOT radiation?
2010 The first time they found CA on her tongue, she had surgery and NO Chemo and NO Rad.
2012 Partial Mandibular Dissection 3 series of Chemo (once a month) for 3 months. NO RAD.
I know she is very weak and being 5'5 she only weighs 89 lbs as of Nov 12 when I was there.
My in-laws are afraid to ask the doctors about her prognosis, we are all in the dark.
I hope some can shed us some light...
Thanks in advance.
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014 A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Yes. On rereading your timeline, I see your MIL had surgery in October. Besides what I mentioned above, Adjunct chemo, secondary to primary treatment, can be done also. I don't know what the weight was before, but if more than 10 percent weight loss occurs, it's a concern, and some type ot intervention is needed for cachexia or wasting syndrome, which has an effect on prognosis. She may need a peg or nasal tube for nutrition, IV fluids or TPN feedings, and other medications to help her, and not being able to get out if bed it is serious, besides other mentioned ailments, so I suggest seeing a doctor, ER ASAP. Even call an ambulance if needed. That's what I had to do for myself, and wound up collapsing and in ICU for a month, hospital for 6 months with every possible ailment. Things can go downhill quickly.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | 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 | Ina what is the purpose of her chemo - ? That what you need to ask - chemo will not cure this cancer -. Take care and sorry she's still struggling.
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: 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 | Ina, gosh I am so sorry about what your mother in law is going thru!!! She must get nutrition and hydration!
I know you are always the last to know and with her being in another country its not very easy to help her. Its unusual to give chemo 'just because'. Since she is in such bad health right now Im wondering why she even is getting chemo at all. The usual treatment (had she been here in the US) would have been radiation to kill the cancer. Do you think the doctors didnt get clean margins or get all the cancer with her surgery? That could be the reason for the 3 months of chemo.
By itself, chemo will not cure her of cancer. Chemo is a helper that goes with radiation to help make it a more effective tool.
I would suggest to her caregivers to take this alot more seriously. Just like with everything else she has been thru, they need to understand this is a life and death disease. I know you are trying to help but it doesnt always go over that well and they dont always listen to your info you pass along. Maybe you could somehow save this thread and email it to them with all the responses. If they can see what experienced forum members are saying would it make a difference to them? Maybe, its worth a shot!
Ina, wishing you and your family Happy Holidays!!!! 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: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | My sister-in-law is going home to be with her for her final treatment in January 2013. I think it is more of being in denial. when I said that her cancer is stage 4 since it has reached the mandible they said it was so small and that is just beginning stages. Being an inlaw is not easy at all. I seem to be the bad guy. They won't read or research about oral cancer.
In reference to her lungs, they said that the chemo was a precaution to stop the spread of the cancer to her lungs. But now she has bad colds and coughing.
Thanks for all the advise and it is so nice to have all of you!!
God bless to all and have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!! Most of all good health and long life to all members and care givers.
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014 A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
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