by the way david, i got a little chuckle of ur description of ur overnight stay at the hospital....sorry my laugh was at ur expense...but i needed a good laugh--so thanks!

Teresa my heart goes out to you and Andy facing this unexpected delay when all you want is to get finished and let the healing begin. I hope your talk with the RO helped to answer some of your questions and gave you a little peace of mind knowing the reasoning behind the treatment decisions. Are you able to find a few minutes a day just for yourself to refresh your mind and spirit. Caregiving is a heavy burden at the best of times and more so facing the challenges O.C. treatment brings. I wish you both strength and courage to make it across the finish line.

Teresa, I wish I could give you a big hug. What Andy's doctor's are saying makes sense I suppose but doesn't take away the stress and concern both you and Andy must have. You must both be feeling like you will never get to the end of this. But you will.

You are doing an amazing job girl. It's not easy being a caregiver. Damn hard in fact. But we do it because we wouldn't be anywhere else in the world. Stay strong and never, ever give up.

Wendy

i have gotten over the initial shock of it all and am doing better.

i am going to linger in february knowing he doesnt have to endure any more treatments. i will face march 1st in march.

my little yorkie has been clingy all day...wont let me put her down. its like she knows im sad and is sticking with me.

I would have to agree with both Eric and David on this one. In my 7 years here I have never heard of anyone getting a 4 week break in radiation. My oncologist at UCSF and wrote the book on IMRT didn't like me missing treatments for any reason, well except for a few time when the machine went down.

I lost over 61 lbs and literally crawled into treatment the last few weeks - they did cut one Cisplatin treatment because I had such a severe reaction. I also made 2 trips to the ER. RT/Chemo is no walk in the park.

How is he faring? How are the mouth sores? Neck burns? Pain management effective?

I believe that the main benefit of RT is the accumulative effect and also the fact that the effects keep on going, for a time, post Tx. Maybe that's his logic?!? Maybe his bloodwork numbers are so poor he may have an unneccesary risk from completing treatment at this time. I would grill the RO about his decision and what the risk/benefit could possibly be from the delay. It is very unusual. It's the longest break in Tx that I have heard of.

he has mucocitis-his entire mouth is a sore, thrush, severly burned face and neck, on fentynol 125 (manages his pain...puts it at a 3). having alot of trouble breathing. some of it is mucous, but it is also nasal blockage due to swelling.

his main tumor is in his nasopharynx. he cannot breathe out of his nose due to the swelling (he also has frequent nosebleeds), and breathing out of his mouth due to the mucous is challenging.

he has had to have his mask redone 2 times due to swelling.

his bloodwork numbers where also one of the reasons to delay treatment.

after the intitial shock wore off...the delay made since to us. what use is treatment if he cant breathe??

I think that most of us had severe mucositus in the end stages of treatment. Mouth sores were a bitch as well. In addition to skin burns. I had thrush so often I was on a 400mg/day "maintenance" dose of Diflucan for months. I honestly don't remember how breathing through my nose was and I have gotten nosebleeds all of my life. We all respond differently to treatment but that wouldn't prevent me from asking the RO about the risk/benefit of a 4 week delay in completing treatment. I had low white cells, low red cells, I used to wonder just what the hell was in there?!?! I can understand how esophogeal constriction may be a reason for a break... But this is a first on the forum.

Where is he being treated? At a NCCN CCC or NCI CC I hope.

houston cancer center.

Sorry to hear how much he is suffering. Isnt there a shot he can get to help with the white count? Ive heard of one but cant remember the name of it. I never heard of a 4 week break either. Poor guy

You are doing a great job speaking up for him. Sometimes being a caregiver is worse than being the patient. Both of you hang in there

he gets the amifostine shot everyweek. we are hanging in there.