| Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | 1 down 34 to go: I had first of 35 rad treatments today. For those who haven't yet heard how a treatment goes, here's a description.
Lay down on table, put head into a cradle that exposes your neck to the upcoming machinations of Dr Mengele. You will feel like your chin is stuck straight up. It puts a little pressure on back of your neck.
Radiation therapist installs 6 gauze dental rolls, two on each side between tongue and teeth and one between teeth and cheek. These dental rolls absorb radiation splatter caused by amalgam or other metal filling and help prevent damage to tongue and cheek.
Head gets locked down to the table in your mask. If you're claustrophobic this might be an issue. I'm not, it's just uncomfortable.
Shoulder restraints get installed to push your shoulders down toward your waist.
You will naturally cross your feet, they will uncross them and velcro both feet to table. Then they will put a pillow under your knees.
The IMRT machine also functions as a standard x-ray machine. They take two images (top and side) for beam alignment purposes.
Then the big radiation head moves around you in a circular arc from below right shoulder, over the top, all the way around to below left shoulder. It stopped for me in about 8 locations and each time I could hear the whir of the machine, which I imagined to be radiation in progress.
When they turn on the overhead lights you know you're through
Tomorrow morning, same time same channel.
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0. 11/13 start rads, no chemo 12/13 taste gone, dry mouth, 02/14 hair slowly returning 05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps. 01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter. 12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
| | | | 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 | Tony, now you are a pro since you have the first one behind you. Most people are afraid of the unknown. Now you have a glimpse of what rads means to OC patients.
Please pay special attention every single day to your intake and push yourself to take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water every single day. Even when the going gets tough, let that be the bare minimum you take in and you will get thru rads easier.
Good luck 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: Aug 2011 Posts: 269 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 269 |
Nancy (53 at dx) Metastatic SCC. Stage III. HPV positive with occult primary. N1, no ecs 7/1/11 - L-Selective neck dissection. Tonsillectomy. All clean. No rad, no chemo. 5/29/13 - Found primary 7/3/13 - TORS 7/8/13 - Emergency Surgery/Blood vessel burst in throat 8/9/13 - Peg in 9/3/13 - Radiation starts 30 IMRT, 60gy BOT, 56gy both sides of neck 10/14/13 - Radiation ended! 11/12/13 - PEG out!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 94 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 94 | Good luck with everything Tony! I try to think of it as every treatment making me more healthy in the long term.
36, female, left tonsil HPV+ SCC, T2N1 8/28/13 SCC in left tonsil 9/12/13 surgery:TORS and selective neck dissection (levels II-IV), 23 nodes removed 9/18/13 post surgery biopsy: 2mm clear margins, a 7mm lymph node positive in level IV, no ECL 10/28/13 rad begins, 30 treatments, tomotherapy 12/09/13 radiation ends! 2/10/14 papillary thyroid cancer 2/26/14 PET shows clear neck other than thyroid cancer, but with high uptake in an ovarian cyst 2/27/14 thyroidectomy 3/5/14 pelvic ultrasound
| | | | 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 | It should go quickly. I am sure. It seems like a long haul but I was just realizing that this week is week three for my father in law. He is doing amazingly well (doesn't have nearly any of the normal problems we have because radiation is aimed further down. And as of last Thursday he is eating better and feeling little pain. He's only getting treatment for 5 weeks soooooo two more to go!!!! One foot in front of the other and you will be done in no time. hugs
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: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | 2 down, 33 to go - No, I won't report on every treatment unless I have something to say. Today the mask was a noticeably tighter fit. RT said sometimes we do get swelling.
She also asked if I was using fluoride trays (I am) as she says most/many opt for teeth removal prior to rads. That surprised me a little. She didn't qualify it in any way, such as for people who have lots of dental problems.
Oh well, tight mask was tolerable, we'll face tomorrow ... tomorrow.
Still hangin in (a good mental place) Still hangin out (doing what pleases me, today bridge) Still hangin around (happy to be alive, I will not go quietly into that good night).
Tony
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0. 11/13 start rads, no chemo 12/13 taste gone, dry mouth, 02/14 hair slowly returning 05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps. 01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter. 12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
| | | | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 28 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 28 | Good stuff Tony. I am interested to hear how the gauze rolls help reduce the effects of radiation scatter off your fillings. I did not have them and have a small lesion on the side right part of my tongue. I started holding my tongue under the teeth in the gap at the bottom of my mouth and it helps somewhat.
Also interesting to hear they strap your feet down and your shoulders. i don't have either of those things. Betting it's just for extra stability and probably not all a bad idea.
The mask will loosen over time as you'll lose some weight.
Hang in there. You've started and now it's just a countdown till you're walking down the right side of the bell curve.
47, Non-smoker, moderate drinker 7/13 Found a lump on my neck 8/08/13 Dx HPV 16+ SCC right tonsil 8/19/13 Biopsy and neck dissection, 38 lymph nodes removed 2+ for cancer 9/23/13 Start 33 radiation treatments & 4 x Carboplatin/Taxol, 3 x Taxol only 11/07/13 Last radiation treatment 01/03/14 Post treatment CT scan looks good
| | | | 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 | RT's remark re teeth is soooo wrong. Patients that need dental work should have it done pre radiation. Patients that have good teeth protect them and their gums as much as possible during and post Tx and do NOT have them pulled just because they are facing radiation.
Don't worry about the tight fitting mask. For about 30 mins after the early rad sessions I looked like I had been hit in the face with a tennis racket. Then I lost weight and the mask was loose. Some loose so much weight they get a new mask.
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 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 | One radiation facility used a plastic exercise stretch tube you held in your hands by the handles, and tube went around the bottom of your feet, while getting radiation, which pulled your shoulders downward, so there was no need for the shoulder straps. I never had my feet tied down, although, I think it was threatened if I didn't stop moving all the time.
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 2013 Posts: 28 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 28 | Interesting mask stories. Maybe because mine fits around my shoulders is why I'm not strapped in. I always seem to hit the line up points perfect when they turn the lasers on. I have to remember to get the techs to take a picture of me strapped in before my last day for posterities sake.
47, Non-smoker, moderate drinker 7/13 Found a lump on my neck 8/08/13 Dx HPV 16+ SCC right tonsil 8/19/13 Biopsy and neck dissection, 38 lymph nodes removed 2+ for cancer 9/23/13 Start 33 radiation treatments & 4 x Carboplatin/Taxol, 3 x Taxol only 11/07/13 Last radiation treatment 01/03/14 Post treatment CT scan looks good
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