 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Joshua,
One thing to always remember when posters respond to any of your posts and that is we are all different; our treatments are seldom the same and seldom is the radiation field or the amount of radiation delivered the same so everyone can react differently to the Tx you will endure.
Also whatever we suggest should never be tried unless discussed with your cancer team.
During the rad most of us loose weight BIG TIME. Loosing 100 lbs during Tx is not unheard of. Make sure, starting now, that you consume 2500 to 3000 cals EACH and EVERY day. Also it's important to drink at least 48ozs of water each and every day. Don't use that PEG unless and until you need it. Many people become lifetime dependent on the PEG and some believe not using the swallowing muscles impacts on that.
Without knowing your teeth situation, most see their dentist pre Tx and most get fitted with Fluoride Trays to protect our teeth during radiation. I began using mine 1 month pre Tx and 5 years post Tx.
Record your TSH level from the next or current blood draw and keep in case your Thyroid craps out post Tx from the radiation.
There's much more to share but you have plenty of time to prepare.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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