Kelly
by the time my husband reached the last week firstly his mouth was like nothing i have ever seen in my time as a nurse and secondly we had a pharmacy in our kitchen.

Although this treatment is brutal,it is also manageable,and all these problems should have been redressed throughout the treatment.

I went to every treatment and every doctors appointment with Robin,and every time he attempted to say "i am fine" i just crashed straight in with "OH NO YOU ARE NOT"

I monitered him at home and as soon as a problem arose like burnt skin,thrush,nausea,refusing to take feeds,not drinking enough fluids,pain,insomnia,i would wait until he had gone in for his treatment and then go straight to the nurse,nutritionist ,doctor,and tell them what was happening.He saw the Doctor perhaps three times a week after his rads because i had ratted on him.

He was a monumental pain for discharging himself from the hospital,refusing meds that made him feel sick or strange,but i was a bully and believe me i needed to be.

At the worst point of treatment he was on,

Mucodyne-topical anaesthetic mouth wash
Nystatin-thrush treatment
Aqueus cream-for burns to skin
Amitryptilline at night -for nerve ending pain
Fentanyl patch started at 50 mcg increasing to 150mcg for pain
Oramorph liquid morphine -for breakthrough pain
Omeprazole-for ulcer caused by medication
Diclofenic-anti inflammatory pain killer
soluble paracetamol- to gargle for mouth pain
Cyclazine -for nausea
Tube feeds every 4 hours,and he didn't even get chemo and thats a whole different ball game.

Brutal as this treatment is,constant vigilace and pushing and nagging doctors,nurses,nutrionists,radiographers is vital so that all available help is given,and as many people here can tell you sometimes all it needs is emergency rehydration to counter balance vomiting,and inability to take fluids by mouth,it can make a world of difference.

Stopping treatment is not an option if he wants to beat this thing ,and someone needs to be brave enough to tell him straight .