| Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | i would have to say i agree with your concerns marmc - i too would feel it was too much on the system... his immune system has been kicked apart and needs to rebuild - and to continue bombarding it for another year - yowza... i don't know - i may be in the minority but i am of the mindset that the minimal amount needed is the maximum you should take into the system. these are toxic substances being put into the system and it effects the entire system not just the cancer... if he just completed treatment in june, he is not nearly recovered yet from that treatment ... and to then start another round that continues for a year ... i know what my answer would be but you have to make up your own mind but if you are not comfy with it then go with your gutt.
Rita - Age 44 wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1 (R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
===============================
"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | The Rule of Thumb for radiation recovery is one month for each week of nuking...
If you are uncertain, get a second opinion as to the need for chemo continuation.
Age 67 1/2 Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05 Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08 Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08 Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06 Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08) Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08) On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Member | OP Member Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 16 | Thanks, Pete. I hadn't known that rule of thumb. We're going to see our original surgeon, a guy who we actually trust who looks you in the eye when he talks to you and doesn't have any bias, on Friday to get his take on this. All of the replies from everyone have been very helpful. When my husband was going through treatment, it was too hard for me to look at this forum. I'm so glad I came back to it. Thanks for helping to talk me down. Mary
photoperson
| | | | 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 | I don't know the origin of that Rule of Thumb and I really don't know what "radiation recovery" means but I will say your body will take well over a year or two to "recover" as much as it will. I am still seeing "recovery" from my ordeal and I am over 2 years out. It was appx 16 months post Tx before I thought I was finally satisfied with my taste and dry mouth recovery and I saw a slight improvement in both areas after my 2 year mark. My whiskers below my chin which were blown away from radiation have just recently started to creep down a bit farther requiring me to shave there for the first time in over 2 years. I wouldn't even think that your body will be finished recovering in 7 months, heck, I was just getting started. Expect a long recovery period and don't ever think you've finished.
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: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | Careful guys, Tarceva is not like your regular chemo therapy. It is a targeted drug that inhibits tyrosine kinase (EGFR). Erbitux also targets that receptor but from the outside of the cells, while tarceva works from the inside. It is a much much smaller molecule and not a protein. There are also side effects however, apparently on can also get a rash (and others), I have no idea how severe this is and how frequently it occurs. Perhaps those who had it will pipe up? M
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | I've read the Rule of Thumb a few times on this forum -- Recovery may never be complete, but at seven months for seven weeks I felt pretty much human again.
The point of the RofT is that one still won't feel good only a month or two after radiation therapy...
Age 67 1/2 Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05 Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08 Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08 Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06 Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08) Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08) On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | 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 | Pete,
Not arguing with you, but I still don't agree that a 1 month to 1 week recovery is even close to being accurate and I don't think we should lead people to believe that after 6 or 7 months they will be recovered. JM2C's
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: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Geez, I have to shave everyday. Maybe that's why I hear the Drs tell me that they have never met anyone like me before. I think it's that I don't think about what all this body has been thru even before OC. And more to go maybe. Will post that in General and not here.
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: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 | EZJim, Ditto! Though I don't have to shave. Lani
SCC part glossectomy 3/06, recur 8/06 glossectomy, floor of mouth, part of jaw removed, RT/chemo thru 10/12/06, PET clear 7/08 "A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn" Passed away 12/14/08
| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | David, I'll insert "at least" "feel almost human again" in the phrase in the future. I use it because some key posters here have used it, which is where I got it from. Again, the point is that it WON'T be seven weeks, more like seven months. The thyroid article shows that some effects can be seven years out.
Age 67 1/2 Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05 Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08 Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08 Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06 Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08) Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08) On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | |
Forums23 Topics18,168 Posts196,927 Members13,104 | Most Online458 Jan 16th, 2020 | | | |