I have someone very close who is undergoing treatment for cancer (tonsil: Left side).

During the course of his treatment, the skin on his neck became increasingly irritated to the point it was bleeding and scabbing over the entire neck and jaw line. I am not sure but intend to find out why there is such a wide band of treatment. He was given special creams, but in any case the treatments were suspended 2 weeks away from completion. He was unable to tolerate the radiation & could not swallow very easily. A couple days later he went for chemo and they hydrated him and suspended that treatment as well. I noticed he could not swallow at all and was coughing up very heavy mucous. He looked very weak & fatigued. All of this was evident at both doctors' offices.

In any case I put him in the hospital the very next morning and it was a good thing I did. He almost died from the dehydration plus he had infections in his neck, lungs and kidneys. His throat is full of sores and his neck is one giant scab from ear to ear.

It seems to me that his doctors should have been monitoring closely enough to know his health was deteriorating from the side effects he was having. They never indicated any danger or concern. Are there tests that should be given prior to each treatment or tests that should be given at the very least periodically to determine the fitness of the indivual undergoing treatment so that modifications can be made?

I could use some advice here. The site is extremely helpful and I am educating myself ...but not sure what questions to ask regarding treatment to be sure a doctor is good or not.

Thank you so much for your input & bless you all!