My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 tongue cancer in the beginning of July. He's been going through the treatments really good - up until now. He only has 7 more days (14 treatments) of radiation and 1 chemo. The mucus in his mouth his killing him (along with his throat, fatigue, etc) He even told my mom today that he wishes he could die. He just turned 57. There's nothing I can do and I hate seeing him in so much pain! I feel so helpless. Does anyone know what happens if treatment cannot be continued (it's been 5 1/2 weeks). The 22nd should be the last day. How about the mucus?
Thanks,
Tracy

I am 58 myself. PAIN MANAGEMENT! That is the key! It is difficult at this stage, and hard to watch, but human being are pretty resilient. He should be reporting his pain daily to the radiation techs and the doctors need to be uping his pain meds. He should NOT be suffering - demand adequate pain management! He needs to describe his pain using the scale they are familiar with - 0-10 - 10 being the worst, unbearable pain.

The treatment has got to beat you up pretty good to work. Make sure that he keeps to his nutritional plan and stays hydrated.

The mucous will just up and dissapear eventually and fairly suddenly. This will all pass so he must hang tough - he's almost there! Another month or so of suffering and he will be past it.

He has done better than most to get this close to the end of treatment with few side effects.

Tracy,

This part of the radiation is where it gets really tough for a lot of people. I was 39 and had no other health problems at the time of my treatment, and when I was around the same place as your father, I also thought it would be better to die than to go on. I argued with my radiation oncologist about the need for continuing, and he convinced me I had to keep on with it (although at one point he did let me have a break of a day or two).

Your father's medical team should be doing whatever is possible to manage his pain and to monitor his nutrition levels to help him get through this -- not only through the end of treatment, but well beyond that until the effects start to let up.

Cathy

Dear Tracy33, Gary's advice is great about pain management. Also, the mucus problem might be helped with a mouth suction machine, which can be rented at a medical supply store. He will have to have a DR's prescription for it. It helped my husband alot and it cost us $40.00 a month to rent. It's a little machine with a suction tube alot like a dentist uses. Hope he can hang in there until the end. He will feel better. Amy

I really understand your what your dad is going through, I had a similar thing but spent the last 2 weeks in hospital due to being too weak through lack of food and the inability to manage.

I went and told the hospital to sort me out with food which came in the form of an NG tube and pain relief which came in the form of a syringe driver filled with morphine and anti sickness.

Now one month out of treatment I look back at those black days and cringe. Yesterday I took my 4 year old daughter to school for her first day. When faced with a wall I would look forward to the day of seeing days like yesterday which gave me heart and strength for the future.

Keep attacking its nearly at an end but get the Doctors to sort the pain out it does work and the mucus does go away.

Tracy-my dad was there too. This is the worst part. Just remind him that this is the time that all of the cumulative effects of the earlier doses hit. My dad was someone I didn't know-he told me to go to hell even!! BUT, he/we made it, he's all done with treatment. Just keep encouraging him and pushing him. It won't make it easier. I often shot him stories about all of the wonderful fighters and survivors I met here...I think that helped?? He was hospitalized and all that jazz---keep praying and encouraging. It REALLY does get better sooner than we thought anyway.

DITTO! I was in the same place as your dad also. I remember wanting to quit treatment & telling the doc's so. Somehow they just talked me through. My wife. She sure put up with alot of crap from me during that time. She's an angel & a fighter & would not let me give up. He can do this! Don't give up on him. This is one of the hardest things in life he's probably ever had to go through. Erik

Thanks for all of the replies and the hope that came along with them. My dad is continueing treatment and said he is going to finish this. The doctors put him on morphine and three other pain medications. The hardest time seems to be on Tuesdays. He has chemo on Mondays. Has anyone been sick the day after? I have told him about all of the nice people that I've met here and I think it does help. How long after treatment do you start to feel somewhat normal? When does food start tasting like something? I look forward to hearing from you all again.

Tracy

Hi Tracy --

I think a lot of people are sick the day after chemo -- the drug you get with the chemo (Barry gets Anzemet -- a 24-hour anti-emetic) wears off and you can get nauseated very quickly. Last Thursday afternoon Barry came downstairs and said, "I just started to feel a bit nauseous" and we both looked at our watches and it was *exactly* 24 hours after he got the Anzemet on Wednesday (his chemo day). He took a Compazine and it went away but if it had been worse he would have taken a Zofran. If you Dad's nausea kicks in at a specific interval after chemo he should probably try to short-circuit it by taking anti-nausea meds a bit earlier. The same with pain -- don't wait until it has hold of you before taking medications -- which is why many folks go to the Duragesic patch as it is long-lasting.

Gail

Tracy, I wish I could tell you it goes away right away. My dad has been done with treatment for uhhh...2 days now. He feels awful. Take baby steps, one minute at a time. My dad has the same things going on---just stay strong for him. As all the people on here that have actually gone through this, the radiation is "the gift that keeps giving" (Gary said this I think) even when you're done. Those wonderful cumulative effects. BUT they are kill, kill, killing cancer. Keep the pain meds pumping. Try to get a pain consult to come see him. In our experience, they are expert at giving the correct dosing and mixes of things. Today we got to go see our pain specialist so my dad could begin to wean himself off! You will get there too. Again, just keep pumping up your dad!!!! We're here for you guys.