Welcome to OCF, Mrs Ziggy! Im glad you made an Introductory post so we know where you are coming from with OC. Im sorry to read what you have been thru already. I notice you have made a couple posts already, so you are quickly becoming a pro at posting. Read and educate yourself about OC so you can be the very best advocate for yourself that you can be.

Over the years Ive advised hundred, probably more like thousands of OC patients and caregivers. This biggest thing you can do is make certain to always hit your daily intake minimums of 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water. This is so vitally important and is a huge factor in determining how easily you will go thru rads. Im sure as you go thru rads I'll become a nag about this. I dont want to ever see any other patient suffer like I did when it is preventable. For now, eat like crazy and dont worry about adding a few pounds. You do not want to go thru rads and recovery with cravings and not be able to eat that item for several months. As far as helping with your intake, ask your doc for an open prescription to get extra hydration in the chemo lab a few times per week. This will help you feel a little better right away after a couple bags of fluids. This is especially important when swallowing begins to get uncomfortable

Line up any additional helpers you can, write down their info and tell them when the time comes you will let them know how they can help. Rads for OC can be a hard thing to go thru, the more helpers the better. Many patients will take strong pain meds and arent feeling the best so shouldnt drive, especially long distances. If you havent already checked with the American Cancer Society (ACS), I suggest calling them for some help. The ACS has a great resource to help patients get back and forth to their treatments. Even if you can get a volunteer driver one day a week, that would be a nice break for your caregiver. The drivers are all cancer patients or caregivers. Its an excellent program, I volunteer and help drive patients once in a while. The ACS also has some financial aid programs to help cover prescriptions or transportation costs up to $300. They are available 24/7 so give them a call any time of day or night you have a few minutes.

I know you are starting Monday and I wish I could have told you some of these things earlier. You should have seen a dentist to get a good check up fluoride trays made. Rads a hard on your teeth, the trays need to be used every single day to help keep your teeth healthy thru rads. Also any teeth that arent in the best shape need to be removed and you should have time to heal before beginning rads. You should have gotten a complete blood work up done including thyroid levels (men should have their testosterone levels done too). Its very important to get these baseline numbers now, before you start and treatments. Down the road after you are well into your recovery, you will need these baseline numbers. Its impossible to going backwards and get your baseline numbers after treatments begin. If these things have not been done already, you may want to postpone your rads until they get done. So if you havent gotten your dental exam, fluoride trays and blood work then call your doc first thing Monday morning and get the ball rolling on these things.

Wishing you all the very best with everything!!!