| "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Welcome, Wendy. You are wondering about the treatments, well, for the radiation, 1st thing is they will fit him with a mask after his dental work is done. The mask is like a fish net that is wet when they put it over his face then will dry and harden in the exact shape of his face. This will be used to keep his head still during treatments, it wi8ll be put over his face each time and clamped to the table. If that sounds like something that will make him uneasy (it is for many) see about getting valium or ativan to relax him ahead of time. Also, many facilities have a cd player and will let him bring in his own disc of music that calms him. My treatments ran about 20 minutes each, which seems an eternity under that mask. His mouth will get very dry from these tx so look into Biotene products for dry mouth. I believe they have them in Australia. I don't know what chemo drugs he'll be getting but make sure he takes all the anti-nausea stuff prescribed. Write down all questions that occur to you for the doctors and take notes onf their answers. Take notes on everything as he will most likely be having a hard time keeping track. Hope this helps and best wishes to you both.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer. And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer. May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
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