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Charm2017 #95879 05-22-2009 06:15 AM
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Man they strapped your arms and feet down!!! Now that would add the topping to what I have always referred to as our barbaric treatment.

My CCC, and BTW thanks for the memories, did make me put my feet up against a board that had ropes attached to the ends and I had to hold the rope tight with both arms to keep my body rigid and motionless.


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.
Charm2017 #95884 05-22-2009 07:18 AM
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Charm: Sounds like you went to a facility that had padded rooms not radiation machines! Sounds barbaric.

Cecelia: I had masks that immobilized the head and shoulders - no wrist or ankle straps. This was bad enough. I must say you do learn to appreciate things tho. There is absolutely NO sound on earth better than the sound of the mask being UNCLIPPED!!

Lots of people have a ritual at the end of radiation to say goodbye to the mask. My Rad Tecs suggested that I drive over it! I brought the first one home and it is probably here somewhere and the 2nd one I just left for them to deal with. Ask them to play music for you (I took my own) practice visualization, sing to yourself, do whatever it takes but you will get through it.

Jim: I'm not sure what type of treatment you had-but I was clamped down so tight I couldn't change my mind!

Take care.

Donna


Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
Charm2017 #95885 05-22-2009 08:54 AM
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Cecilia Offline OP
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Martin said he didn't mind the being clipped to the bed so much. But the loud buzz bothered him. The people on the other side of the vault used to talk to him through a microphone and reassuer him.
He does get the creeps when he is in an elevator with a female voice that tells you what the elevator is doing. Like "Doors closing, first floor". That's because of the elevator that takes you down to radiation. The lady sounded like Princess Diana, but now makes Martin hair stand on end. He prefers to take the stairs if the elevator voice is female.
Oh and a weird fact about the radiotherapy section in our hospital... it's haunted. Some porters refuse to go there, and some security guards refuse to work the nightshifts there. The ghost is a lady, and she opens doors with the sensors, and wooshes past the CCTV cameras.
Well that's the legend anyway. Martin has never seen her, and I am not sure I beleive all of that anyway.


Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis
Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008.
Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm).
Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june.
30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October
First comparative study scan came back clear
Cecilia #95890 05-22-2009 09:14 AM
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Damn, I must be the only one that was treated the right way. I mever even heard os vault doors unless it was someone they were afraid would run/. And as for being restrained any where but the head. To me this is ridiculous and no way to be treated.


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
EzJim #95891 05-22-2009 09:15 AM
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LOL That must be the Land of OZ .


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
Charm2017 #95892 05-22-2009 09:20 AM
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I am glad I live in the Ohio Valley where they use their heads to help you remain calm thru rads. May be it was because they knew I could take what ever they wanted to do.. bit as for that Vault door????? That is one I never heard of, Maye it was that ghost doing that.


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
EzJim #95904 05-22-2009 11:30 AM
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When I had rad. It wasn't that bad. It was in a big open roon, wher you went in there was no door, the wall was about 18 inchs down short hall then just turn and go in no kind of door. I believe it was the same way where they were, I never heard a door, I could see them behind slass sometimes. They would talk to me. took about 5 mins. unless they were doing xrays, then it took longer, but they were there about all the time. they would lay a ring on my belly and ask me to hold on th it, they put a wedge under my knees, It just wasn't that bad, close your eyes and think about what your goin to do later or think about someone you would like to slap, get some anger out or think about the good. They cheated me I didin't get the fun part, the ghost, heavy doors slaming, tired down now, I couldn't take,I don't think. We have a newly built cancer center here, that may be why things are different.
The best of luck to you and its not that bad.


cancer surgery on July 7th. 2008, I'm now a survivor. cancer free for now. 39 radiation, and 8 chemo treatments.
Pandora99 #95912 05-22-2009 02:36 PM
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[quote=Pandora99] I'm not sure what type of treatment you had-but I was clamped down so tight I couldn't change my mind!

[/quote]

Now that's funny.


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.
davidcpa #95954 05-23-2009 02:35 PM
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Cecilia Offline OP
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By vault door, I mean big thick door with a lock. I suppose it was an idiot proof door so that no one like me could wander in to see how the other half was and get zapped in the process.
The radiologist where very nice though. They talked to Martin through a glass door and microphone. They had to cut the eyes out of the mask because the mask was puxhing too hard on his eyes and hurting them. They ended up cutting the mouth out as well. They also called you by your name and were so encouraging. The nurses were also lovely, showing me how to dress his neck and what to use to moisturise his neck.
The lady haunts the radiotherapy section and there is a man who haunts one of the wards. We never saw any of them, shame.
Martin's mask was green and very hard, moulded to his face with clips on the sides.


Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis
Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008.
Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm).
Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june.
30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October
First comparative study scan came back clear
Cecilia #95964 05-23-2009 05:06 PM
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My radiation room has a vault door. It's massive! But it around a bend so I don't see it or hear it. They don't close it all the way.
Sandy


Sandy 56, BOT SCC Biopsy 1/21/09 Stage 3, T3NXM0.
Finished 3 cycle induction chemotherapy 4/7/09. (Chisplatin, 5-fu and Texotere). Re-staged 4/20/09,(very successful.) Will start Carboplatin/radiation 2 Gy/5 days/7 weeks (Tomotherapy) starting May 4th. Finished 6/22/09.
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