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#186410 11-05-2014 07:05 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
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Posts: 23
We are down to 5 more rad treatments and all is well. My question now is what to expect after its done. We understand that for 2 weeks or so we should expect that my husband will feel worse, but then he should start improving. He got through so far really well. He's biggest challenge is keep weight on. He expects that he will go back to work a week after the treatments are finished although he never really stopped working, just did so from home. Are we fooling ourselves that this will be a distant memory soon?


Maura
Working caregiver of husband Don ,56yrs, non smoker, casual drinker
6/14 DX squamous cell carcinoma on base of tongue, HPV positive
8/28 Radical neck dissection w/ removal of 31 lymph nodes and partial pharyngectomy T2 w/ MET to lymph node
8/30 emergency surgery to cauterize bleeders in throat
10/1 Began 1st of 30 tomotherapy
11/14 end of radiation
MAK #186411 11-05-2014 07:31 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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If all is well, so far, the weeks after treatment may not be as bad as is for some. Usually it's the time when the rope mucus sets in, then the dry mouth, skin burns are at its worst. Radiation keeps working several weeks after the completion of treatment. Don't expect side effects to suddenly stop at the two week mark, it slowly gets better. Most significant improvements, in my experience, are at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year. Maybe because historically is when I see my doctors, have scans and have to think about it more. Side effects can take years to resolve, some never, and then long term effects can set in. I don't ever think it's a distant memory, but life goes on, the worst may be behind him, and is often individualized, just like treatment.

Good luck.


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






MAK #186415 11-05-2014 11:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
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Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
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Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)

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Hi Maura,

Nobody knows with certainty but based on your description, he has indeed whizzed through treatment. Fantastic!

Just based on what I've seen here, I'd take a bet he will not get much worse. Maybe follow the same trend for a couple weeks then stabilized if he has not already done so.

That said, don't surprised if he does find some side effects showing up. Just tend to them and they will resolve quickly.

You'll be into recovery mode in no time. Great for you!


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
MAK #186811 11-23-2014 06:40 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 559
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"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
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My oncologist told me to expect to feel bad for the same duration after treatment as treatment lasted. My radiation (only) lasted 7 weeks. If memory serves (it really does blur with time) I was at my worst about 4 weeks post treatment and then it began to start getting better. Improvement is SLOW, you won't notice any significant change on a daily or even weekly basis. If you can even remember all the symptoms you had a month or two months ago, then you will notice they are not quite as bad as they were before.

I thought my recovery would be linear in nature, about the same amount of improvement on a daily or weekly basis until everything was just back to normal. It wasn't like that for me, had plenty of ups and downs, improvements and setbacks along the way.

I'm coming up on 1 year since treatment completion. I still have a few dry mouth, dry sinuses issues and food still doesn't taste right, but otherwise life has pretty much returned to normal. Maybe the best thing about all this is the weight loss. I lost 40 pounds during treatment and have been able to keep almost all of it off, though I'm sure many on the forum would not consider that to be a good thing.

You will get there, it just takes awhile, so be patient.

Tony


Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good


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