#48196 05-18-2007 09:16 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | Survived Week 1 of radiation\chemo\daily Amifostine! It has been an adventure, getting used to things smelling awful, and some things tasting awful, while others taste fine. Been battling nausea\constipation as well, but doing better today.
Sour things, fruits and chili are all things that taste reasonably normal right now. It is a battle trying to keep enough fluids going to thin out the mucous, but not an insurmountable problem yet.
I know the worst is yet to come, but I am going to enjoy my 2 days off over the weekend! Jeff SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007 T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007 39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07 Complete response to treatment so far!!
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#48197 05-18-2007 12:36 PM | 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 | Jeff,
At least you have started and 1 week is behind you. I no time you will be walking out of that tunnel.
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.
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#48198 05-18-2007 04:04 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Jeff, your attitude has been so good thus far, let's hope you will keep it throughout the rough parts ahead. The nausea can be a real battle, but I think the constipation issue can be handled pretty well if you start now figuring out now what OTC stuff will help you the most- don't let it get out of hand. July isn't that far away. Amy in Oz
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#48199 05-19-2007 04:52 PM | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 17 Member | Member Joined: May 2007 Posts: 17 | Enjoy the foods that taste good now, and do NOT stock up on anything. I found that my diet needs and tastes are changing daily; sometimes shifting within a single day.
I discovered that the last taste sensation to leave is the taste of "bitter." What fun! I have learned that I can still taste an echo of the flavor of natural foods, like say, vegetables. I can sure taste the awful artificial additives. For instance, I tried some ham, and while I couldn't taste the HAM, I could taste the artificial smoke flavor they add to it, and it was bitter.
It's been very hard to try to stay ahead of the curve in what I can eat. I'd go to the grocery store and stock up on what I could eat that day, and by the next day it would be off my menu. I'm living on BOOST protein drink right now, 3 weeks into treatment, and will be doing so until I can no longer swallow.
One piece of advice... make your doctor give you a prescription for "Magic Mouthwash" and a pain reliever. Have those IN your cupboard for the day you need them. Magic Mouthwash has made the difference, at least for today, in being able to eat solid food or not. It numbs the roof of my mouth so I don't feel pain when I eat.
My doctor recommended plain old Metamucil for constipation. I haven't tried it yet, but I will soon.
Good luck to you!
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, epithelioma-like carcinoma. (T2ANOMO IIa). Completed 35 rad treatments June 19, 2007. "When god closes one door he opens another; but sometimes it's hell in the hallway."
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