Hi,

First off I think everyone here is doing a wonderful job in lending support to people who are afflicted with cancer.

My Mom, 45 years old, was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, base of the tongue (primary) and 1 node at the side of the neck. We decided to go with IMRT only (no surgery, although a surgical oncologist did recommend that). She is undergoing IMRT treatment and is about 8 sittings through. She had a couple of (2-day) doses of chemotherapy in between (Sysplatin, 5FU) because the doctor felt that this would allow the IMRT to do its job better.

The last 3 or 4 sittings, she has had to take a time-out in the middle of the radiation because she has had palpitations and some trouble breathing and also pulse-quickening . The doctor has said that this is psychological and completely stress-related and that there's nothing that relates to the treatment itself that can cause this. Have any of you come across any such effect (either during IMRT or XRT)? If you have, can you tell me if it IS purely psychological?

The doc has now prescribed a mild dose of tranquilizer (with an OK from the cardiologist) so as to prevent the palpitation. Now, will taking this drug during the course of IMRT treatment have any side-effects?

Hello, Welcome!

I can tell you that going through all of this is stressful and she may indeed be having anxiety attacks as a result. I do not think the tranquilizer will cause any bad side effects.

Take care

Ash,

What your mom is experiencing is not so unusual. Many here including my husband at some point during treatments needed some type of antianxiety medications. It is probably more likely psychological although I am no doctor. I would say that you should trust your doctor on this one.

It is not unusual though and I just wanted to let you know that.

Best to you and your mom,
Cindy

I think the MD's are correct. I had a lot of stress from the radiation. I dreaded it every day. So I don't tink it is unusual. laying on the table in that mask is very stressful and claustraphobic. I wish I would have had a mild tranquilizer for my tratments.

Make sure you have all the knowlege you need before opting out of surgery. PT and cat scans will only show a million cells or more. I too had SCC on the base of my tongue but had to lymph nodes. I felt much better after my surgery when the pathology came back negative.

Steve

I had XRT and I did have palpitations also. My doctor put me on Xanax, very mild dose, which I took one when I got up and by 9:15 when treatments started I was relaxed. In the evening I would take another one as I seemed to get really nervous around 6 p.m.

As the others said this disease is very stressful on the mind as well as the body.

Sending your Mom good wishes for a fast recovery,
Barb~

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the replies. Just a little more on that: she takes a medicine called Alprozam (spelling?) in the morning, about 3-4 hours before the IMRT and one again at night. And also a pill to reduce her heart rate (starts racing at some time during the IMRT). I was wondering if any of you has faced dependency issues once the radiation is complete? How serious is that and how did you get off the drug, after?

I also have a bone disease and have been at various times over the last 15 years been on almost every kind of pain and anxiety medicine. I almost always have taken them on a "take as needed" basis. Some days I take three and some weeks I take three.

Maybe someone else has some ideas. Since I have been in pain for so many years I probably am not a good one to help. How is your mom doing by the way? I am remembering her.

Blessings,
Barb~

Hi Barb,

Thanks. She's about 12 sittings down (21 to go) at this point, and, although not facing "major" problems, there are a lot of things that are hampering daily activity. She's hardly able to eat anything, which directly determines her energy levels. She drinks a lot of milk and fruit juices and such; pretty much subsists on that. The node and the lesion on the tongue have regressed quite significantly; the doctor says things are on track.

I will remember her each day. I started on liquids on day 8. I could do cream soups, and broths. I always added a can of baby strained meat to them as it is very important your mom gets protein to help rebuild the normal cells that are being damamged in the process of killing the cancer cells.

Instant breakfast is good and with a scoop of protein powder you get that extra boost of protein. I used to put it in the blender with half a bananna, a bit of vanilla and a couple ice cubes for a smoothie.

Once she hits the half way mark things will seem to go faster for some reason. Please continue to let me know how she is doing.

Blessings,
barb~