Hi Diane

My diagnosis was the same as Paul's, and the treatment should have been the same though with only 6 weeks radiation. It was changed thanks to Xmas! This time last year I was just finishing my 2nd round of Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU when it was decided that the Xmas public holidays would interfere with the beginning of my rad treatment. So the 3rd chemo was dropped so I could start rads sooner. It was explained that the radiation treatment was the bit that needs to be right as it is rads that kills the cancer while the chemo only helps to 'soften' it up. Anyway as it turned out I was very grateful as thanks to the chemo I already had a very sore mouth from mucositis and thrush, and had to have a blood transfusion to bring my blood count up. So I dread to think what state I would have been after a 3rd round of Cisplatin, Taxotere,5-FU. Along with rads I had 2 further rounds of Cisplatin rather than the planned Carboplatin (preferred because I had missed the 3rd Cisplatin). My biggest problem was a very sore mouth and lack of appetite so I ended up being quite dependent on my gastric tube. I then had the usual problems of producing the thick slimey mucus. But I was not too effected by tiredness. I managed to get out for a walk most days, though i did rely on my partner to make me do this.

The level of effects is very different for everyone with or without induction chemo. Although the extra chemo obviously give the body more to deal with so nutrition and fluids is especially important. I'm not sure what the different thinking is behind using induction chemo, but it seems to be more standard in the UK, though not many elsewhere seem to get it. Perhaps someone else knows the answer to that. Anyway as to tips it is the same as for those without induction chemo. Probably best if you post with specific issues as you have to deal with them but the basics are:
- Plenty of nutrition and fluids, swallowing something every day,
- regular mouth washes,
- do exercises throughout the day to open jaw wide, this may help to avoid tightening later on and reduction of jaw opening called trismus (I wasn't warned about this and because i was slow to start eating again I only noticed when I had problems opening to eat a banana!)
- for the later days of rads have in a good stock of paper hankies and something handy to spit into. For going out make up a bag with hankies, small bottle of sodium bicarb mouthwash and a spittoon of some kind (I used a cleaned Fortisip bottle) and if vomiting becomes a problem have a bowl and/or some plastic bags,
- also think about sleeping a bit more upright for when the mucus is a problem, I spent about 2 weeks sleeping sitting on the sofa because I was up every hour to the bathroom to cough up mucus with was closer to the sitting room.
- have easy entertainment available - books, TV/radio, videos, whatever he feels like doing. My thing was Sudoko when I didn't have the energy to read.
- get out for a walk and fresh air everyday even if it isn't for long,
- field phone calls and manage visits depending on what he feels like. I didn't really want to chat especially when my throat was sore and I lost my voice for a while. I did like seeing people (selective) but I relied on my partner to do the chatting, and I enjoyed just listening. But this needs to be explained because people couldn't help asking me questions.

That's all I can think of for now. I am pleased to say that the memories of the bad time fade away quite quickly.
Sally