| Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 6 Member | OP Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 6 | My boyfriend starts radiation tonight. Was supposed to be yesterday but, he couldn't do it. He is very panicked even after xanax and norco. We have 8 weeks of this. He can't medicate everyday for that long. He has a lot of congestion on a regular basis so, with the mouth trays and the positioning, he has a hard time breathing. Any other ideas? He has music...
Caregiver to boyfriend Diagnosed 10/12 stage 4, SCC Left Lymphnode Unknown primary most likely in the left tonsil HPV+, non-smoker, social drinker No surgery, 1 week on 2 weeks off chemo, 5fu, cisplatinum and taxotere completed 12/22/12 PET 1/13 clean starting radiation 1/22/13 - 8 weeks with weekly chemo | | | | 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 | Welcome! The first day of radiation is usually the hardest. Some use Ativan, but I have no experience with these, and did without, but some do need, and many only need for the first two weeks, after that, may need pain meds anyway. Try relaxing techniques, deep breathing, meditation, visualization, maybe see a therapist, and talk to doctor about the congestion, and his or her recommendation dealing with radiation, which may help matters. Usually the techs talk with you during the process. Hopefully, he has your company or from another going to his treatments daily. 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: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Hi Jodi and welcome.I had the same problem as my throat was swollen from biopsy. They had to reposition me and make another mask. I was also pretty claustrophobic and twice had panic attacks and had to get out of the mask, take a beak and start over. It took 25 extremely miserable minutes for each session but I made it. The rad techs all said they didn't think I would. Btw, that was 5 years ago this week and I'm still cancer free and doing great. Please pass on my best wishes to your BF.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer. And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer. May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | I can only speak as a caregiver here so hopefully others will be along with more helpful suggestions. Everybody reacts differently, though and your boyfriend may just find it gets easier, as time goes on. I would make sure the doctors know about his reactions - maybe try something different for calming effect. Besides music - where you can follow the song to know how close you are to the end of Tx session, listening to an audio book, or working out a decorating scheme or math problem in your head, some deep breathing exercises before the session for calming effect. Let us know how he does.
Anne-Marie CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | 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 | Remember each of us can react differently but for me my first "strap down" was heart pounding but after that I adapted. Listening to LOUD music helped me pass the time.
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: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | For me it was an audio book. If your boyfriend is a reader, maybe have him get into a book that really engages him, start with print and also get the audio version. So he's already involved with the story/text before he moves into listening to it on The Ride. Probably have to use portable speakers as I doubt they'll let him use earbuds in there.
It's no fun, but I'm glad he has you for support. Keep us posted.
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: Dec 2012 Posts: 6 Member | OP Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 6 | Thank you all so much! He made it through the first one!! One down, 39 to go! We met with his Radio-oncologist today and he was very helpful. We will be working on the "magic concoction" and hopefully, we will come out relatively unscathed. We have ideas of what to expect but, living in the moment. Stay well everyone and I will post more questions or updates as they come up. Thank you again...
Caregiver to boyfriend Diagnosed 10/12 stage 4, SCC Left Lymphnode Unknown primary most likely in the left tonsil HPV+, non-smoker, social drinker No surgery, 1 week on 2 weeks off chemo, 5fu, cisplatinum and taxotere completed 12/22/12 PET 1/13 clean starting radiation 1/22/13 - 8 weeks with weekly chemo | | | | 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 | Hi Jodi! Its not easy the first one. The fear of the unknown makes it so much harder to do. Have him close his eyes and pretend he is someplace else. I would imagine myself on a warm sunny beach. I never opened my eyes at all during my rad treatments. After he gets past the first one it will be much easier. He must accept this is what he must do and then do it. 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 | So glad he got through it... I just closed my eyes and ignored everything. It worked but when they put the mask on me the first time I was surprised when they locked me down!;o) It does get easier. best of luck
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
| | |
Forums23 Topics18,170 Posts196,930 Members13,105 | Most Online458 Jan 16th, 2020 | | | |