I have a question on radiation pertaining to my husband
Today he went in for the five days a week rads the two young nurses that help with the radiation patients marked and repositioned the mask with out the RO in the room): I wasn't told this of course until we got home it's been on my mind all day and it just makes me more concerned.. Are they treating my husband with the best care is he getting the right kind of attention trough this it's very stressful enough... When we first started in March meeting with the ENT he todo us they're souks be several specialist their (aka) a team !! Working together while he us going trough this somehow I fill we're in the dark but what do we say ? That's the only decent hospital within hours from us

Today wasn't all that has had me bothered it's the manners from the ENT he's a very cocky dr he may be a good surgeon but he don't have the attitude or personality to comply with it .. I fill today that the radiation O should have been their and not two young people that acts so inexperienced not that young people are stupid it's just the bed side manners you receive or the actions a person makes or does that speaks volume

I'm going to try and talk to them tomorrow that the last rad for this week I need answers and really at a busy office it's hard to get them when needed

Sorry forgot to mention that he is going into the first part of week two
He still eating good and swallowing just eats slower than before and seems a little more tense than before :: I find my self saying shhh! To the kids more when their really not at all bothering me but I fill they may be a little loud around their dad their such good kids they are what keeps us going and trying harder they can say the funniest things !!

The team who work those machines work very closely together and its not unusual for minor adjustments be made. Once the patient is in place an xray is done before every treatment to make sure they are in exactly the same position every time. I know its a very foreign and unnerving experience but there is a lot involved in the planning process that we don't see. The protocols for running those machines is quite involved and it not like slapping a burger on the grill, although thats what Larry might feel like sometimes!

ENTs arent renowned for their bedside manner, but even the quirky ones I've come across know what they are doing. I Googled mine, found out he was actually a professor, very highly regarded academically and by his peers as a top surgeon. But within 5 minutes of meeting him I wanted to punch him in the mouth!

Its a lot to take in, and you have a way to go yet. My treatment finished a couple of weeks ago, and I've seen a number of patients recently in the same boat, some went better than others. You'll see and hear this advice all over this forum, and the medics have probably given you this as well.

1. Eat and drink as much as you can, while you can.
2. Bicarb mouthwashes 4-6 times a day.
3. Sorbolene on the neck 4-6 times a day (not less than 1 hour before treatment) and use sorbolene as soap, at least around the neck.
4. Get a notebook and start writing down when you take what meds, temperature. Its very helpful for preventing missed doses (memory can get a little foggy) and its good if Larry has to be admitted to emergency for something.
5. Do the swallowing exercises. Tongue presses, jaw stretches, effortful swallows. These help later on.
6. Write down changes that happen and talk to the medics about them. Oral thrush, tinnitus and constipation are things you want to get on top of early.

There are others, but if I was sending a letter to myself 6 weeks ago, thats what I'd write so I hope you find that useful with Larry. I'd also say to remember my wife is amazing and I couldn't have done it without her. Best of luck to you both.

Radiation adjustments are common. Mine were adjusted weekly throughout Tx and I hated those days because I was "in mask" for at least 15 minutes longer. These techs work closly with the RO and are trained to do exactly what they do.

Yes the eating, soon to be drinking, is a huge part of this ordeal but he needs to get at least 2500 to 3000 cals EACH and EVERY DAY from now till at least the end of his 1st year post Tx. Soon he may/will migrate to liquids only. Swallowing effeciently will become paramount which means swallowing less but getting the most calories so check out and even order now Boost VHC which delivers a whopping 560 calories in a small 8 oz can. Don't need a prescription but it's not found on regular stores shelves. Check out Amazon via OFC's link or stores like Walgreens, CVS where you must go thru their Pharmacy dept.

Amen davidcpa! My dinner of choice was 3 cans of Carnation VHC with a Benecalorie chaser. I got behind the 8-ball early by not getting enough caloric content and that momentum was hard to stop and reverse. I did well in treatment but could have done much better had I been smart about calories from day 1.

If this was a daily treatment session, the RO rarely, if ever, attends regular sessions. The RO technicians are fully qualified to do their duties. It seems unimaginable any accredited facility to allow non-certified persons in the treatment room. Not to say it is impossible but absolutely not a typical event.

I had Tomo Therapy (IMRT), and the first part of the treatment was always a scan to check and calibrate measurements and the machine. It's totally normal to make adjustments throughout treatment without the RO there. It's what these folks do all day every day

Positive thoughts and prayers.

Like everyone here, all my RO's, I had a few lol, never went into the radiation room, maybe once to check my mask. It's all done by the Radiation Therapists. On the other hand, during IORT, Inraoperative Radiation Therapy, the RO is present during surgery with the surgical team, along with the physicist, to do system checks, protect structures, place radiation pads, calculate dosage and RO is the one who presses the red button remotely from a leaded room in the OR to deliver radiation, along with the rest of the surgical team.

When I was consulting with my first radiation treatment, the RO was called on the phone, and had to check the set-up via her monitor. When she finished, she said tha was for prostrate cancer, and waved her hand, saying that's nothing compare to what you're going to get lol.

[quote] during IORT, Inraoperative Radiation Therapy, the RO is present during surgery with the surgical team, along with the physicist, to do system checks, protect structures, place radiation pads, calculate dosage and RO is the one who presses the red button remotely from a leaded room in the OR to deliver radiation, along with the rest of the surgical team. [/quote]Thanks for the details on IORT. I have seen the acronym but not aware of the details. Certainly, in this sort of adhoc, real-time planning and zapping with no map, you need the wizard and sidekicks there but even they do magic from the "control" room, not the operating theatre.

You finished you're treatment on my bday thanks for all the advise and the part on the end that was very sweet hope all us well with you I wanted to ask what does the 70gy) mean in you're signature area sorry I'm still new to the abbreviations I try but sometimes it's best to just type out the whole word lol ..