Hello everyone

I have really been a pest thses past few days with these questions but here's another...
Stephen has an appointment tommorrow with his MO at Dana=Faber and I want to go ready. I really feel in my gut that there is something going on ewith my husband. I woukd really appreciate everyones honest oppinions her. Stephen is still sleeping around the clock and I need to clarify that I am not exagerating. He's not just lying in bed being lazy and depressed...he literally sleeps all day all night. Today I noticed these rings around his eyes. They almost look bruised..He just doesn't look right to me and I need some answers. Could it be that the tumor hasnt responded(It is a T$ BOT) and that the cancer had been spreading during these weeks? Please be candid and let me know if youve ever heard of anyone never recovering from the treatment because the cancer continued to grow..
Thank you all
Kerry

Kerry, no one here can give you the answer about whether the cancer is still growing BUT I can share with you that for weeks after radiation tx. ended John slept almost around the clock and felt and looked awful. {He did not have chemo at the time} Stephen has been really beat up by the rad. and chemo. I know it is heartbreaking and very frightening for you to see him like this, but you are going to have to gather all of the inner strength you have to get through this. It will be as hard a job as you have ever had. I hope you can feel us reaching out to you. Amy

Kerry just chill out a little. He's bottoming out right now from the treatment. I know it's hard to watch - my wife thought I was going to die for sure but it was just a normal reaction to the brutal effects of chemo and radiation. He should be a sleeping a lot right now. The other side of the coin, is he responded so well to treatment that the tumor is dead. It takes one month of recovery for every week of radiation and it's a very slow, drawn out process. You will only be able to measure any progress at all in 3 week increments. He'll bounce back - give him some time. Stay on top of nutrition, fluids and meds. All I had energy to do was a shower in the afternoon (I had to wait for my energy to peak) showering first thing in the morning would wipe me out for the day - and force feeding myself liquid gruel! It took a major effort to stay on top of the dental hygiene but I managed somehow. Now I have insomnia - I hardly ever sleep at all.

This too shall pass!

Hi Kerry,
I haven't posted in ages, but I related to your question so much... My husband slept pretty much non-stop for a few weeks after treatment, too, and looked absolutely dreadful. It really does seem to be the norm after the rigors they endure. And one month of recovery for every week of treatment is a bit optimistic for some people. My husband finished 18 months ago, and is still healing in some areas. Let us know how the checkup goes.

Thank-you all. I feel better. I'm going to take a deep breathe and chill like Gary suggested...couldn't get thru this without you all.

Kerry

Kerry
I want you to know that it doesnt get any worse from here. This is the stage that scared me the very most with my husband. I did have the chemo docs give him a little fluid one day when we were in for a check up, and it was amazing how well he bounced. Erik hit the peak of his depression right about this time too, I just made sure that it was brought up at the next appointment, and the doc put him on some meds for a few months. We are seven weeks out of treatment right now and the improvement is AWESOME!! I took him to Vegas this weekend and he partied and kept up like the rest of us (cept he slept in later) My prayers are with you, I know how scary it is right now!!
Jennie

Kerry,

Whe expect thngs to improve rapidly after the end of the treatments. But this is not so. What doctors fail to tell us is that there is a gradual decline in health following the treatments due the effects on the bidy by the radiation and chemotherapy.

There were many times when I felt that my spouse was not going to make it that the cancer had come back. Now, 10 months after the end of the treatments she is still not fully recovered.

It is a long and slow process but hang in there as things will get better. Be patient.

Vin