| | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Teresa,
You are dealing with an enormous amount of stress now. Please let yourself off the hook and don't worry about telling everyone anything. Clark and I have been through similar things--as soon as one of us said something positive about his recovery to our family and friends, almost the next day another unexpected issue would arise. People heal differently and at their own pace. You are doing a great job as Andy's caregiver. Hang in there.
Anita
Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Amofostine has nothing to do with blood cell counts. It's purpose is to preserve salivary function and most patients don't tolerate it very well. Most here have had to stop it's use long before the end of treatment. If he is getting IMRT then he probably doesn't need it anyway. Procrit is the drug they sometimes administer to help with blood count issues. See http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-treatment/CA00066
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Teresa,
Did you say he already has completed 35 treatments? Most of us only get 35 treatments so maybe that is why the RO is willing to give him a break. Why did they think he needed extra weeks?
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Eileen,
I was thinking the same thing. I know I got 70 gy over 35 treatments. I asked about this specifically after hearing it on this site. Originally, someone had listed 40 treatments on my chart. After coming here members thought that was a bit long so I asked. My RO said it was a mistake on an early assessment and that after the planning stage they put in the 35. He also said it was 70 grey units (gy)
Kelly
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | The maximum I have seen is 72 Gy and at 1.8 Gy/day (maximum fractional daily dose) that would still only add 2 days. 70 to 72 Gy's would be 35 to 37 days respectively.
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | ur right gary (of course  ) . the amifostine is the shot he got each day with the IMRT. he did have to stop taking that one a while back. he does get a shot 2 days after his chemo although i dont know the name of this one. yes he has already done 35. his planned treatment is 40. he has a dr appt tomorrow, i will find out more.
Teresa
-----------
CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09
tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3
PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09
35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10
tx stopped due to complications
IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10
PET 4/12/10 CLEAR!
PEG out 4/14/10
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | If he was getting Procrit it would be administered in his stomach, by injection, daily. Evidently since the last time I explored prcrit there are additional warning and contraindications for use with H&N patients refer to this link if you are on Procrit. http://www.procrit.com/
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | his injections are neupogen once a week.
Teresa
-----------
CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09
tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3
PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09
35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10
tx stopped due to complications
IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10
PET 4/12/10 CLEAR!
PEG out 4/14/10
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 235 | Hi Theresa, just noticed your husband's Drs appt is tomorrow. Hope you get some of the answers you are looking for.
From a fellow NY sports fan...
CG to Spouse BOT, Chemo and radiation started on March 29,2010
Ended on May 14,2010. LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | didnt make it to the dr today. had severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings. almost blew the top of our gazebo off.
Teresa
-----------
CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09
tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3
PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09
35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10
tx stopped due to complications
IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10
PET 4/12/10 CLEAR!
PEG out 4/14/10
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