Thanks to EVERYBODY for their encouraging words.

It's not that I'm trying to be a 'superman' here by going it alone. I just flat don't know anybody where I live (only lived here a couple months now) and have no family anywhere close to me.

I do have a couple of co-workers that sort of live in the area. I'm hoping they can help me out with some of the days I may need a ride. The driving thing has me worried the most. I'm trying to plan this thing out (the best one can in this situation) and hoping I won't have to rely on someone getting me to and from treatments very often (if ever?). The Kellogg Cancer Care center I'm dealing with is close to work (5 miles at most)...but not close to home (about 30 miles). I'm hoping I can go into work early, leave early to go to treatment center and then go home as a routine.

I will find a 'niche' somewhere in one of the topics here other than the introduction page and keep everyone posted.

Thanks again for the help in advance

Garyock

Garyock --

Please contact the American Cancer Society -- they may be able to help you arrange a driver or other transport as it is highly probable that you will not be able to drive yourself to and from treatment after a few weeks. It will depend on the exact therapy, but chemoradiation is very fatiguing, you may have sedation for the radiation (which will affect your ability to drive) and when (note I said when, not if) you get into opiate pain relief then driving is also very problematic. Worse, you may not be able to make this judgement call yourself.

In any case, ACS helped my mother a great deal with transport when she was receiving therapy for leukemia and she told me that they were also helping others who did not have local caregivers. Also, many cancer centers have staff whose job is to facilitate transport, housing (when needed) and financial assistance for cancer patients -- after all, no one needs these worries when fighting this disease!

Ask your oncologists exactly what chemotherapy drug you will be receiving, what they will prescribe for nausea, pain and possible anxiety. You need to ask if you will receive a gastric feeding tube (PEG) as almost everyone getting chemoradiation has problems staying hydrated and getting adequate nutrition by mouth during and immediately after treatment. Will they be giving you Ethyol (amifostine)? This has its own (sometimes serious) issues but recent studies have shown it does help preserve salivary function. Not everyone gets a portacath, although this does allow easier delivery of some of the chemo drugs (my mother had one). Also, not everyone has post-treatment neck dissection -- this is a bit controversial in the HNC medical community and seems to vary from institution to institution -- for example, none of my husband's doctors at Hopkins (ENT, RO and MO) recommended it for him although he had stage IV SCC.

This is a very difficult and hard road you will be travelling,and you will definitely need some help along the way, both mental and physical. Is there any possibility of one of your brothers coming to stay with you, for at least the last 3-4 weeks when you will be feeling the worst and need the most assistance with things?

Gail

Garyock,
Ethyol helps in some situations, not in all. It is not an absolute that it will help you preserve salivary function. Some people simply cannot tolerate it though. I did not have it and still retained some salivary function.
Also, a neck disection is not as horrible a procedure as it sounds to be. I had one, as have many on this board. You must make sure that the basis for you to have or not to have one is based on your doctors opinion of your set of circumstances, and not based on what treatment others have had.
Gail makes a good point about the PEG, see if and when they are giving you one. Some people get through without it, some don't. It seems to be a very individual type situation with no set of rules or guidelines to follow.
Good luck with it,
Minnie

welcome gary, we will all support you along the way its a hard road but you being so postiive with a little help along the way you will get there.... take care ...god bless... maz

Welcome to the Oral Cancer Foundation Gary! Glad you found us but sorry you had to.
As long as your a member of this forum you are not alone. Ask any question you can think of and someone with similier treatment will respond. It's a tight "Band of Brothers" that make up this site.
Please keep us posted as you start this diffucult journey to recovery. Many members have traveled this path and survived and you can to.

All my Best, Danny Boy