Amber, glad you got good news on the dental front. Free service is wonderful. Just for your information, simulation is when the doctors will fit your dad with the mask they use to direct the radiation treatments. It is critical that the head and neck are kept completely motionless and the same reference point is used each time the rad is given. Therefore, a mask is made that goes on his face for each treatment to hold him in place. My rad treatments started within a few days of the simulation, so it is good news to get the process started. You can't be done until you start. God bless.

Amber,

I agree that the free dental service can be very helpful, especially since there's potentially a lot involved. Just be careful, though -- not all dentists are fully up to speed on radiation-related issues that affect dental treatment, even for years after the radiation is over.

My dentist and oral surgeon are very sensitive about that concern, and if they have any question about what is to be done and who should do it, they discuss it and in some cases refer the work to a specialist (and I'm more than 15 years out from radiation).

Cathy

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!!
I had a question for any and all of you..We went and met my dads radiation team, and we are meeting with the chemo doctor on Monday, but his radiation doctor said that he was going to tell his chemo doctor to use a "single agent" chemo..and I'm not familiar with that or what it really means, I have tried searching the net about it, but I haven't found anything to tell me the difference between that and other forms of chemo..So if anyone is familiar with this, please let me know...(thanks in advance)..As for my dad, he is hanging in there..he had to have 13 teeth pulled, but it was the only option for him right now..He is losing weight, so I bought him some Ensure, hoping that he will like it and it will help..The hardest thing for him is not really being able to eat, he has an extremely hard time swallowing already so I'm not sure how he will do once his treatments start(he starts on Tuesday)..I have talked to a few people that I know, and they suggested an Aloe drink that I can get locally at a wellness store, so if anyone else has any good remedies for these types of problems..please feel free to let me know what worked and what didn't for you..
Thanks Again,
Amber

Amber, this is just a guess, but as far as the "single agent" I know I began chemo with just one drug. That I was later switched to a combination involved something unrelated to your dad's treament. With regard to nutrition and his trouble eating, I would strongly suggest he and his doctors take a hard look at a PEG. If he has swallowing difficulty now, I cannot imagine how he will manage to take necessary meds and adequate water and nutrition down the road. I was absolutely unable to swallow the meds I needed at the end of treatment for pain, and without the PEG I would have been up the creek. A number of people have gone through rad/chemo without a feeding tube, but some of us simply would not have been able to do it without. If either of you has questions about a PEG, you may contact me directly and I will be happy to answer them. My experience with it was completely positive.

Amber,

I can't comment on the chemo part of your question since I had surgery and radiation without chemo.

Regarding your question on nutrition, you're right to be concerned about keeping up your father's food intake. Different people have different responses to Ensure (I wasn't a big fan of it), but there are other alternatives as well. One high-calorie option that has been posted elsewhere on this site is the following (it has about 1300 calories):

2 cups ice cream
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 package instant breakfast
1 cup whole milk
3 TBS Ovaltine
1 TBS Malted Milk

I tried variations on this, with fruit mixed in -- also used things like oatmeal/cream of wheat, a whole assortment of baby food, applesauce, pudding, scrambled eggs -- anything that I could ingest with little or no chewing. Every meal had to go through the blender.

Have his doctors told him whether they plan to use a PEG tube for feeding? Some of us didn't have one, but others here have said they couldn't have gotten by without one, so it may be something he needs to consider.

Cathy

Amber,

It is common to use a combination of chemo agents. One actually destroys cells and the other affects the cells in a way that the radiation can better destroy the cells. This is a very non-scientific or medically technical description intended to help you understand the purpose. You should ask your doctor what alternatives there are and why he has chosen this route so you know the answer. He will assume you don't have a question if you don't ask. As you say, your dad is in great health right now and if it was me, I would hit it with all I could (as I did). When battling this horrible disease, we may only have one chance at life!

Ed

Hello everyone..I just thought that I would give everyone an update..My dad started radiation this week..but there has been some bumps in the road along the way..he was dehydrated, so i took him to the hosp. the other day to get his fluids back up, and he has been having serious dizzy/passing out spells..Everyone in the family thinks that he needs 24 hour care until his tumor shrink and they aren't pushing on his aorta and such, but he won't go for it, so his doctor made him promise that if he has another spell, he will go to an assisted living facility until hes better..but the radiation hasn't really affected him much, the first day, his neck started to burn that night, but hasn't had that problem since..We are holding off on the chemo right now until he is stronger..He is only to have chemo once a week, but hes just too weak to handle it right now..And I was wondering if anyone has ever had some sort of shot prior to their chemo/radiation treatment.I think that its called a Thile? They said that its to help his saliva glands, but it can cause nausea, so he was given self dissolving tablets to help with that, but since he has been so weak, they are holding off on that shot also..but for now, the radiation isn't making him any more weak that we can tell..He has been eating some soup and drinking Ensure, and now they are going to order some Prosure for him also, just to try to keep his weight up (hes lost about 20 lbs)I hope everyone is doing well!!
Thanks,
Amber

p.s. he quit smoking this week also..(after almost 40 years) So I am very proud of him!!

Amber

Amber,

I had a shot of Amifostine injected daily during all my rad treatments to try to preserve as much saliva function as possible. I was one of the lucky ones in that I didn't have any significant side affects to this drug which others experienced and many had to stop taking it.

Good luck and I hope your dad's strength improves each day.

Hugs, Nancy

Hello everyone..Its been a while since I was able to get back on here for a minute, but I just wanted to give an update..my dad isn't feeling that great, but his doctor told us today that the mass on his neck has shrunk 2.5 centimeters already..and he has only had 7 radiation treatments, so his doctor is very suprised and happy about it..we have officially put chemo on hold for a while until he starts gaining weight and getting stronger..but radiation seems to be doing well for him at this point..so wish us luck!!!
Thanks,
Amber