Amy that is GREAT news about the effects of the Erbitux on John's tumor. You and John certainly need that kind of encouragement at this point. I'm thinking of you.....

Nelie

Joyce and Tom,
Welcome to the forum. Your journey has begun much the same as ours--Tom also had a lump in his neck, three rounds of antibiotics later the PA sent him for an MRI. Hello cancer...The great news is that my Tom is nearly three years post treatment and doing very well. Sense of taste has not really returned and the PEG tube is a lifeline. Keep up the positive attitude and stay in touch!
Charlotte

Thanks, Charlotte! What great news about your Tom! We are hoping for the best as well. The news that your Tom's taste has not returned is a little disconcerting--what taste has been affected the most or is it everything? Tom is supposed to get his tube next week. About the only thing he can taste now is salt--Campbell's chicken noodle soup is his diet!

Joyce

Joyce, just read the "chicken noodle soup" is his diet- that won't cut it Between now and the peg, he needs to be getting everything down he can- taste or no taste. Whatever he can swallow should go down his throat. Calories and hydration are the most important thing. When you have time, do a Yahoo search on " Hi Calorie Liquid Diets"- you will get some good info there. Amy

Amy,
I just got home from a weekend at my mom's in Pittsburgh, PA. My mom has pancreatic cancer. She's holding steady 10 weeks after her diagnosis.

We have a consult with the gastroenterologist on Tuesday and we're hoping (yes, now he's looking forward to it) for the PEG before the end of the week. Radiation side effects have hit all at once. Tom's throat feels "raw" and even worse than no taste are things that taste bad. He is trying. In fact, he's eating some very soupy, very sugared oatmeal right now. My mom sent me home with some Boost for him to try. It's really been good for her.

Thursday was Erbitux #3 and his MO said he'll only have one more dose of Cisplatin. That will be in two weeks.

I read that you are off to San Antonio to help your daughter move. Good luck and don't work too hard--hahaha.

Joyce

Joyce, I can't believe you are dealing with 2 cancers at the same time What are YOU taking?
Here are some staples in my pantry\frig that will help Tom [with or without the peg]
Benefiber-for stool regularity- buy at Walmart,
NatureAid- weight gain-1500 cals. per 16 oz milk or water-buy at a natural foods store
EggBeaters and powdered[dry] milk- add to other foods
Lots of canned soups ato puree
Ensure Plus & Boost: Suppliments [OCF coupon}
Swansons chicken stock, beef stock, veggie stock
Whipping cream or whole milk-add to soups
Clamato juice, Welches Grape juice, Gatoraide
Pepsid
Pill crusher-Walmart-[really handy] don't buy Gelcap anything]
Plastic measuring cups- 1 cup and 2 cup- helps keep up with intake amount and are easy to pour from.
Liquid tylenol [in case of a surprise temp]
Peroxide-for cleaning around peg insert
Hydrocortisone Cream for the Erbitux rash
You know- OCF should open it's own "multi purpose" store! Keep us up to date on what is going on. Amy

Amy, I am coping. Work is my "therapy." At least there I can control things!
Tom and I saw the GI doc this morning. He'll get his PEG tube on Friday, not a moment too soon. It hurts him to swallow his spit at this point. Also, today after his radiation, he was going to go upstairs to the MO department to get a fluid IV. They told him he could do that anytime--a good tip.
Thanks for the pantry list! There should be a place on this site for such things. It would be helpful to all of us.

Joyce