After the first week = 5 doses are people generally able to carry on normal activities. People at work want me to attend a Music Fest with them on August 7, the day of my 5th rad treatment. My hobby is photographing musicians. They have set up rooms and done things so I would be comfortable. Some say I won't be able to and others say that early I wont even know I am being dosed.

I don't know dosages but 40-55 in back of mouth and 50 -70 in front.

I was wondering IF I could drive to West Virginia that weekend.

Wishful thinking?

While things are individual the first and second week are normally non events**. Especially if you have no or just a small dose chemo. (so much so that one wonders.... so is that it? but it catches up later on...)

Are you getting a PEG as well? It will take some time to get used to that.

** of course there is the psychological component to consider too.

M

I was told first 2 weeks you feel pretty good but the 3rd week is when you start to feel it....then again I was told by people who have never gotten treatment!LOL

For me the last 2-3 weeks were really harsh, but the first 1-2 weeks were absolutely fine. But as my doctors always say, everyone reacts to these things individually.

With the usual disclaimer that everyone is unique: my experience was that the first two weeks of radiation were a breeze. I had not trouble driving, going out to resturants, even exercising at the gym. I had not yet found OCF so I was in for a very rude awakening the remainder of my treatment.
PS. Ask your radiation oconologist what your total treatment dosage is. The standard measurement is GY, each of which is 100 Rads (old measurement). The typical aggressive treatment is 72 GY. More than that can be very problematic. You might also ask the average dose planned for each week. My first round jumped up tremendously the last two weeks.
Finally, the worst part of radiation is the time afterwards.

Hisnibs, Eat, Eat, Eat. And listen to all the folks here they know what they are talking about.

John had symptoms right away--first day weird taste and some salivary changes, by third day nausea that hasnt' resolved since, and he completed rad tx on the 14th (even with trials of various meds, feedings, etc). That doesn't seem to be the usual, though, from what I've read on this site. Everyone's situation is a little different, though--hard to predict! Best of luck.

Well here she comes the harbinger of doom lol.I posted a message ..CAN IT ONLY BE THREE DAYS? Robs skin was burnt,his mouth was burnt and all his plans to work every day up until he went for tx lasted 2 days.

I know he was not the norm,but thats the whole point.There is no norm,and no one knows till it happens .

love liz

Hisnibs -

I'm on week 3 of my radiation treatment, and it's my first week of discomfort, pain, and fatigue. Weeks 1 and 2 were, relatively speaking, a breeze. Why not plan to go and then see how you feel on that fifth day? You can always decline at the last minute -- everybody would understand.

Good luck with your treatments. I hope they go well for you!

The first two weeks went relatively well for Dan. He took a biz trip by plane after the first week. One big variable is chemo, are you getting chemo? If so, what is the type and frequency of your chemo treatments?