Welcome to OCF, Connie! Im sorry you have a need for our services. Dont worry, we will help both you and your husband as much as possible with info and support. Spend some time reading both here and on the main OCF site. Theres tons of info in both places. By reading and learning more about OC and its treatments you will become a stronger advocate for your husband.

Where is your husbands tumor located? Being he has been a long time tobacco user, theres a very good chance his cancer was caused by using tobacco. If he is still using tobacco he needs to completely eliminate tobacco of all forms from his life... permanently!!! Treatments for oral cancer (OC) can be a difficult for both the patient and caregiver. By using tobacco, it just make things even harder for him. Your husband will need to depend on you to get thru this.

Make certain you discuss with him the necessity of focusing on his intake and meeting (or even better, exceeding) the daily minimums of 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water every single day. I can not stress enough how vitally important your husbands intake is!!! You will know if he is making his minimums or not. If your husband starts losing weight thats a sure sign he is not making his daily minimums. Going down that path can lead to being hospitalized for malnutrition and/or dehydration. I was so bad at keeping up with my intake I struggled and suffered wayyyy more than I should have. Back then I dont know if I was in denial or just too stubborn to admit

Make sure you also talk to your husband about any change he has with his hearing. If he is given cisplatin as his chemo, it can permanently affect his hearing. Cisplatin is the go-to chemo for OC. Even if he hears a slight buzz or high frequencies sound different he needs to report this immediately to his medical oncologist. His chemo can be switched to something else if he experiences any or the side effects I mentioned. The 3 "big bag" method of chemo may be hard to handle. Many patients get a smaller 2nd dose and the 3rd one reduced or eliminated completely. Your husband needs to make certain he drinks extra water the day before, the day of and at least the day after he gets chemo. The nurses will give him extra hydration along with the chemo. This does not mean he doesnt have to still drink extra as mentioned before. Chemo can be hard on the body, especially the kidneys thats why its so important to flush that poison out of his body.

Being a caregiver is not easy! Make sure you are taking some time just for you. Even if its a quick walk around the block or 2, taking a car ride, getting a mani/pedi, going to a movie or out to lunch with friends are all ways to temporarily take your mind off your patient and the cancer. Every week do something to be good to yourself.

Theres a million more things you will learn from OCF. I do not want to completely overwhelm you by bombarding you with everything all at once. Hang in there!!!