| | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 1 | All I can say is that this forum has given me good information (thanks to Daivdcpa)of what to expect during treatments and post treatments.
I was lucky enough to have accumulated vacation time and have short term disability through my employer to take medical leave to focus on my treatments. I did manage to work through at least two weeks of treatment.
While others where only given the option of (3 bag) of Cisplatin, I took the (7 bag) option. From what was explained on difference is just the dosage of the poison that was being put into your body. I was able to tolerate the chemo without being nauseous, but they give you enough meds to combat that.
Tastebuds will go about week four of rads and will be that way for sometime during and after treatments. Was not a fan of all the mucous during the treatments. Some have opted out of the PEG tube, if you have good insurance then get it done, as you will have hard time getting food down if you don't do PEG tube and you will starve. Drink water and more water as you will need to stay hydrated with RADS and chemo.
Just keep your head held high and just keep focusing on the treatments, before you know it, it will be all done and over with.
Oh, one more thing, not a BIG fan of that dam mask. They ask me if wanted mine, hell no, melt it down into something useful.
Age 52 at DX, non-smoker, occasional alcohol consumption
6/19/13 excision of mass (6x3x3) from left neck, HPV 16+ SCC of unknown source
7/6/13 PET scan negative
8/7/13 Biopsies of BOT/sinuses,laryngeal all negative. Tonsillectomy, Left Tonsil show to be primary source (0.7cm).
TXN3M0, Treatments completed on 11/20/13 of Cisplatin x7 a week with concurrent IMRT treatment (66Gy) x2 for 33 days.
PEG tube removed on 2/13/14, medical port remove on 3/12/14.
PET scan clear as 2/21/14.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I'm glad Davidcpa directed you here! Welcome.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Welcome to OCF! Its always great to have another survivor join our online family 
ChristineSCC 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 | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Welcome to OCF John! Sounds you are well through the tough parts of recovery. Things continue to improve slowly and the one year point is generally where you arrive at the "new normal". Some state continued recovery until two years out; personally, it seems the improvements during the second year are pretty marginal but every bit is great just the same.
You may get off easier than most. I did and pretty much felt fully recovered before the one year mark, so everyone is different.
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | |
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