Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
vandypaul #148640 04-22-2012 02:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
When your wife comes home from the hospital, she can have a visiting nurse check on her a couple times per week. This should be something arranged at the hospital. There also may be some home health aides who could come help. They can help her with simple things like bathing and dressing. I had visiting nurses weekly for 9 months. But I also had some major complications, most patients will be ok after a couple months. Most will stay 2 or 3 weeks in the hospital. Many will go to a rehab facility for a few more weeks to help them gain strength and to prepare them for being able to go home. The surgery is a big one and recovery is long but since your wife is in otherwise good health she should be ok with this. She hasnt had radiation yet so her healing should be faster than someone who already did radiation. I know its a huge decision to make.

I wish you both all the best with everything!


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
ChristineB #148780 04-26-2012 01:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Still in limbo. Surgeon felt we needed to talk to medical Oncologist to discuss radiation/chemo option to surgery. Have session on Monday and then big decision. Thanks for all the input.


Caregiver to wife with stage 4 oral cancer. Cheek and 2 lymph nodes.Diagnosed April 2012. At age 80 decided against major surgery.Currently doing 9 chemos and then 7 weeks of radiation/chemo.
vandypaul #148853 04-29-2012 01:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Tomorrow is last info day before decision. We wonder how much agony we are willing to go thru at 80 yrs of age. We all want to be healthy at any age but the cure may not help our overall health. I know we will do something but also looking at the least invasive options. Just venting. Any 80 yr old out here?


Caregiver to wife with stage 4 oral cancer. Cheek and 2 lymph nodes.Diagnosed April 2012. At age 80 decided against major surgery.Currently doing 9 chemos and then 7 weeks of radiation/chemo.
vandypaul #148855 04-29-2012 02:05 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 638
klo Offline
"OCF Down Under"
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"OCF Down Under"
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 638
Hi Vandypaul

Going back to your first post which asked what sort of questions you should be asking. Everyone has given great advice about getting second opinions and giving you some idea of what to expect from the OC aspect but I don't see any advice around (or missed) addressing the Crohns disease.

My question to the doctors if I were in your wife's shoes would be to ask how treatment would affect her Crohns. I am thinking specifially of chemotherapy which affects the whole body - including the entire gastro-intestinal tract. Make sure your oncologists don't forget they need to take this into account when recommending treatment.

Good luck and let us know what you and your wife decide

Karen


Karen
Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes
Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve
Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31
Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin)
Finish Aug 27
Return to work 2 years on
3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED smile
Still underweight
vandypaul #148856 04-29-2012 02:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
I wish you all the best with your difficult decision! OCF does have an older gentleman who stops in from time to time. Look for posts by EzJim. He has gone thru heck and has shown such resiliency for a man in his 70s. He is a great example of someone who never gives up or gets discouraged, he just keep a positive outlook and keeps going. There have been others in their 80s but off the top of my head I can not remember specific screen names.

No matter what you decide, we will be here to support you with info and a place for moral support. Best wishes!


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
ChristineB #148975 05-02-2012 11:59 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Decision has been made to go with chemo/radiation.Impact of Crohns is a little less than the 10 hr surgery option. Hopefully begin next week-go for mask fitting tomorrow.Hard choice and only time will tell. She finally fully understands the side effects after our meeting with thw rad oncologist Thanks for all the inputs.Our choice of Vanderbilt and their team approach helped tremendously in making the decision.


Caregiver to wife with stage 4 oral cancer. Cheek and 2 lymph nodes.Diagnosed April 2012. At age 80 decided against major surgery.Currently doing 9 chemos and then 7 weeks of radiation/chemo.
vandypaul #148979 05-02-2012 01:03 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 945
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 945
Vanderbilt's a great center - my husband's ENT trained there. It will be a difficult journey, but the good doctors at Vanderbilt are supporting it because there is a good chance it WILL be worth it. Younger people have us on physical strength and stamina, but age brings its own emotional fortitude, courage and patience. My very best wishes to you both.


CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
LAW #148982 05-02-2012 01:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Your post arrived


Caregiver to wife with stage 4 oral cancer. Cheek and 2 lymph nodes.Diagnosed April 2012. At age 80 decided against major surgery.Currently doing 9 chemos and then 7 weeks of radiation/chemo.
vandypaul #148983 05-02-2012 01:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
It was deleted as it took away from your thread responses.


Nutrition and hydration will play a huge factor in your wife's success with getting thru this easier. Every single day she needs 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. Do not skimp even one day thinking it can be made up the next one. It never happens. If you push for even more per day that is even better! Try to get her to enjoy all her favorite foods now as her sense of taste will be altered for a while.

So glad you have chosen a cancer center!!!!

Good Luck!!!!


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
ChristineB #148992 05-02-2012 04:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
Likes: 3
"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
Likes: 3
Best of luck! You'll get through it. Hugs!


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
Page 2 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5