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My mother had a Mandibulectomy on March 25,2014 . Four weeks after surgery she started her Radiation Treatments. Her treatments are for six weeks. The first four weeks she gets one treatment a day and the last two weeks she gets two treatment a day six hour apart. She did fine until she started two treatments a day. I had to actually bring her to the ER yesterday due to swelling in her throat. She is suffering with burning in her throat also. She only has three more days(six treatments) to go and now she says she don't think she can take another one. Her neck is really red and burnt looking. Is this normal ? Also has anyone ever had two Radiation treatments a day ? The R.O said two Radiation Treatments a day is equivalent to Chemo.




Sweetpe
Caregiver
RE:My Mother
Age 70
Non Smoker
SCC 3/4/2014 Left rear jaw
Mandiblctmy 3/25/2014
35RAD Completed on 06/03/2014
MRI 9/3/2014
25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth carcinoma
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery
MET(s)
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery Not Successful
Chemo Recommended
1st Round of Cisplatin Chemo Started 10/20/14
Cisplatin stopped 11/20/14. Side affects to bad.
Chemo started again 1/22/15 Carbo/Docetaxel
Passed Away April 22,2015


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Yes, what you describe is completely normal. She should be patting on some thick cream to help her skin. Many have used aquaphor. I used prescription beta val. Never put it on prior to going to rads but afterwards pat it gently on and allow it to soak in, repeat a couple times per day.

Please do not let her quit or she faces a high risk of the cancer not being eliminated. I know how bad she feels, I wanted to quit when I was about at her pint too. My son and nurse refused to allow me to even consider that option.

Nutrition and hydration play a huge role in how she feels. Every single day her intake must be at least 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water. If she is falling short of the fluid intake she can get a prescription to get hydrated in the chemo lab. This will instantly perk her up.

The end and first 2 or 3 weeks after finishing are the hardest of this whole thing. Im sure she feels awful but please help by encouraging her to stay on course.

Best wishes!!!



PS... I sent you a PM when you first joined. It has a link which is full of helpful info. Its important to have a signature, details are in the link. Look for the tiny flashing envelope next to the My Stuff tab and click on it.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
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Please discuss all of this with her RO. Radiation side effects most often get progressively worse as the Tx nears it's end and can be different for each of us but what you describe affects almost all of us.


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.
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That sounds like late course accelerated hyperfractionated IMRT or Concomitant boost accelerated radiation treatment.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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Unfortunately it is normal. In addition to Aquaphor the Doctor gave me a prescription for Silvadene (Silver Sulfadiazine) cream. That really made a big difference for me. Helps all burns BTW.


Kevin


9 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.


�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking
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Like everything else associated with this cancer's treatment, we all can react differently so we will give you what worked for us but that may not be enough (or an over kill) if your reaction is worse than ours.


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.
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HI there... what she has going on is normal. I've had two treatments in one day - twice. It just makes the symptoms worse. Push her to finish the last few. It's doable. I only had two double cookings but I was doing okay before that so it didn't really make things any different for me. Hugs. Tell her she's almost there...


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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Thank you all for the help. My mom took her last treatment on Wednesday 6-4-14 . Thank goodness she's through it. She is in a lot of pain but I read all of your responses to her and it was very helpful. She is eating crushed ice it seems to help a lot. Hopefully as the days go by she will feel better.

Again thank you for the advice its been very helpful. I'll be back soon .


Sweetpe
Caregiver
RE:My Mother
Age 70
Non Smoker
SCC 3/4/2014 Left rear jaw
Mandiblctmy 3/25/2014
35RAD Completed on 06/03/2014
MRI 9/3/2014
25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth carcinoma
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery
MET(s)
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery Not Successful
Chemo Recommended
1st Round of Cisplatin Chemo Started 10/20/14
Cisplatin stopped 11/20/14. Side affects to bad.
Chemo started again 1/22/15 Carbo/Docetaxel
Passed Away April 22,2015


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Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
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Please check your messages. Ive sent you one with a link. Look for a tiny flashing envelope next to the My Stuff tab and click on it. In the link is detailed instructions on how to add a signature. Its very important to have one so we can help you. Please add one as soon as you can. Thank you!


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Most of us suffer the most the 2 to 3 weeks POST RADIATION so do not get discouraged if she does not start to improve until then.


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.

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