#56335 04-14-2005 10:33 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 27 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 27 | Hi Minniea,
I'm glad for you and your family that everything is back to normal. I hope now one misunderstood why I was asking. It sounded like I was being selfish, but I really didn't mean it to sound like that. I guess being new to all this, it just astounds us the amount of "side-effect" I guess you could call it, that we come across. For instance, call me naive, but we didn't even realise there would be weight loss....or no saliva...
I read in one of the other posts and it certainly makes complete and utter sense..."expect the worst and hope for the best". Well I can tell you all, thanks to this wonderful website, after reading a large portion of this forum, we certainly are prepared for lots of hurdles and challenges.
I wish you all the very best of luck and good health.
Susie
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#56336 04-14-2005 11:56 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | The side effects for some of us can be daunting. I was pretty much disabled for 18 months. After all of the physical things simmered down, then the mental and emotional issues had to be resolved. I had a hard time concentrating and putting whole sentences together for a while. I had difficulty speaking for a few months. Then I had to rebuild my body from the severe muscle atrophy and weight loss. It took almost 2 years to get back on our feet financially. If they were to give us a whole body dose of the amount radiation we typically receive, we would be dead in a few days.
I feel really good now, with normal energy levels but it took 2 years. Like Minnie, sex is a want, not a need - breathing, eating, hydration and survival are needs. I think that the brain goes into a survival mode and automatically shuts down non-vital functions. It will go back to normal once the crisis is over.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#56337 04-15-2005 01:34 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Susie,
You didn't sound selfish, you were just asking a question. I hope our answers show you that your feelings are right on track.
It's an odd position to be in when we are trying to figure out what is normal in the after cancer life.......is anything normal?
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#56338 04-15-2005 03:00 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 663 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 663 | Gary,
I think that Harry is following in your footsteps and I am glad you are here for inspiration.
Cindy
Caregiver to ex-husband Harry. Dx 12/10/04 SCC stg 3, BOT with 2 nodes left side. No surg/chemo x4 /rad.x37(rad comp. 03/29/05)Cisplatin/5FU(comp. 05/07/05)-T1N2M0-(cancer free 06/14/05)-(12/10/06) 2 yr. Survivor!!!
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#56339 04-15-2005 02:32 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | I agree with Gary, Our bodies go into a survival mode. Sex is not a big part of that for the first two years. (I Hope) I am coming up on two years (July 14/03) and sex is still on the back burner. Just laying together watching a movie can be just as meaningful if not more. Lots of hugs and saying "I love You" is a powerful bonding phrase.
Best Wishes, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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