#71700 03-20-2008 09:08 AM | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 17 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 17 | :)Hi all, my brother is doing well after almost completing his first week of chemo and radiation treatments. A little nausea but the zofran helped.
Thanks for your concern, I will keep you updated....
SS
Brother,56 yrs.old, diagnosed Feb.2008,scc,bot,+ 2 lymph nodes,stage3,HPV,peg,undergoing chemo and radiation 8 weeks beginning Mar 17,2008
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 231 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 231 | I am pleased to hear that your brother is doing well. I dont want to be the bearer of bad tidings but it will get a whole lot worse before it gets better. Just tell him to keep the faith and it will be over before he knows it.
Billy
Dx Mar 07 with Base Of Tongue Stage IV. IMRT 35x with 3 doses Cysplatin ran concurrent. Tx ended May 31,07. Left and right node involved. Radical neck disection 7/18/07
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I am happy for your brother , but must agree with Billy. Things will get worse before they get better. It's nothing one can't handle with a positive attitude. I think the members of our family here are what keep me fighting with an upbeat attitude. It isn't the pain, it's how we deal with it.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 | It gets worse but time seemed to fly by. I am just the caregiver my husband might not agree.
Cindy | | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 38 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 38 | Hi there, SS,
Congratulations on getting through the first week (and a half now) with a positive attitude! I'm so glad that your brother's feeling good. Be sure he keeps eating, okay? Really, it's just soooo important for him to put on every ounce possible right now! The Zofran makes it possible to keep eating; that is a miracle drug, and thank goodness many of the insurance companies cover its cost. [My doctor said she didn't care about the "quality" of the calories--just to get them IN there!] I managed to gain 10 lbs. before I began losing 30. I'm back to normal now, though sometimes I thought I never would be.
We all know that, yes, "things will get worse." But just really enjoy today. He can still eat! YAY! That is a big deal! His medications are minimal right now, so you have time to start a list or spreadsheet and organize it into the hours of the days. I think I had 17 medications, so getting that list organized sure gave my husband something concrete to focus on while I was snoozing.
Thank you so much for your update. We're there with you all, and we wish you all the very best.
Carol
Non-smoker non-drinker, 50 when diagnosed 9/11/06 stage IV scc of oropharnyx, malignant lymph nodes both sides of neck. Cause=HPV16. Daily chemo & daily IMRT for 7 weeks. In 2 clinical trials at Johns Hopkins, good results. Peg tube out March 07. Update September 2014: gratefully in good health!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 17 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 17 | Thanks to all for the support. I know you are right about things getting worse before they get better(especially after week 3) but we are definitely trying to keep a positive attitude!
It's week two and my brother says that food has a "tinny taste" and he is starting to lose his taste buds (which I remember reading about on this forum) What I haven't heard about was an explanation for the "ringing" in his ears? Possibly from the chemo?
Any advice would be appreciated...
SS
Brother,56 yrs.old, diagnosed Feb.2008,scc,bot,+ 2 lymph nodes,stage3,HPV,peg,undergoing chemo and radiation 8 weeks beginning Mar 17,2008
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | Hi SS,
If your brother is on Cisplatin, that is likely the cause of the ringing (or tinnitus). He will want to talk to his MO before proceeding. Cisplatin can cause permanent hearing loss and with that the tinnitus.
Margaret
----------
C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
| | | | | 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 | If he is on Cis get him to his MO ASAP. I didn't recognize it soon enough and I have permanent high frequency hearing loss due to Cis.
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: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 | There is nothing to help the ringing that I know about. But he should use plastic utensils to eat with. Funny when we went to a nice restaurant and my husband would ask for plastic utensils.
You all should enjoy these weeks and be proud of your progress because you will soon have two good weeks behind you and that is two bad weeks you didnt have. Good for him!
Cindy | | | | | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 104 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 104 | Hi SS,
My dad got through when he started adding a package of baby rice cereal to his Ensure type drinks before he got ut of bed each morning. Said it kept the nausea away if he did it this way.
And you might want to ask about Mucinex to help with the excessive mucous, makes it much easier to get it out.
Hang in there, your doing good!
Dad had oral lichens planus, and oral leukoplakia before T2 SCC,2 nodes.
DX10/23/03
IMRT 12/29/03.30 rad,3 boost.
Brachytherapy 3/8-3/11/04.
Recurrence Nov07 Stage IV.
4 Surgeries
No rads, no chemo
I have oral lichens planus,
thrush,leukoplakia 2/20/08
6/2/08 biopsies "inflammation"
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