i would have to say i agree with your concerns marmc - i too would feel it was too much on the system... his immune system has been kicked apart and needs to rebuild - and to continue bombarding it for another year - yowza... i don't know - i may be in the minority but i am of the mindset that the minimal amount needed is the maximum you should take into the system. these are toxic substances being put into the system and it effects the entire system not just the cancer... if he just completed treatment in june, he is not nearly recovered yet from that treatment ... and to then start another round that continues for a year ... i know what my answer would be but you have to make up your own mind but if you are not comfy with it then go with your gutt.

The Rule of Thumb for radiation recovery is one month for each week of nuking...

If you are uncertain, get a second opinion as to the need for chemo continuation.

Thanks, Pete. I hadn't known that rule of thumb. We're going to see our original surgeon, a guy who we actually trust who looks you in the eye when he talks to you and doesn't have any bias, on Friday to get his take on this. All of the replies from everyone have been very helpful. When my husband was going through treatment, it was too hard for me to look at this forum. I'm so glad I came back to it. Thanks for helping to talk me down.
Mary

I don't know the origin of that Rule of Thumb and I really don't know what "radiation recovery" means but I will say your body will take well over a year or two to "recover" as much as it will. I am still seeing "recovery" from my ordeal and I am over 2 years out. It was appx 16 months post Tx before I thought I was finally satisfied with my taste and dry mouth recovery and I saw a slight improvement in both areas after my 2 year mark. My whiskers below my chin which were blown away from radiation have just recently started to creep down a bit farther requiring me to shave there for the first time in over 2 years. I wouldn't even think that your body will be finished recovering in 7 months, heck, I was just getting started. Expect a long recovery period and don't ever think you've finished.

Careful guys,
Tarceva is not like your regular chemo therapy.
It is a targeted drug that inhibits tyrosine kinase (EGFR). Erbitux also targets that receptor but from the outside of the cells, while tarceva works from the inside. It is a much much smaller molecule and not a protein. There are also side effects however, apparently on can also get a rash (and others), I have no idea how severe this is and how frequently it occurs.
Perhaps those who had it will pipe up?

M

I've read the Rule of Thumb a few times on this forum -- Recovery may never be complete, but at seven months for seven weeks I felt pretty much human again.

The point of the RofT is that one still won't feel good only a month or two after radiation therapy...

Pete,

Not arguing with you, but I still don't agree that a 1 month to 1 week recovery is even close to being accurate and I don't think we should lead people to believe that after 6 or 7 months they will be recovered. JM2C's

Geez, I have to shave everyday. Maybe that's why I hear the Drs tell me that they have never met anyone like me before. I think it's that I don't think about what all this body has been thru even before OC. And more to go maybe. Will post that in General and not here.

EZJim,

Ditto! Though I don't have to shave.

Lani

David, I'll insert "at least" "feel almost human again" in the phrase in the future. I use it because some key posters here have used it, which is where I got it from. Again, the point is that it WON'T be seven weeks, more like seven months. The thyroid article shows that some effects can be seven years out.