| | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 60 | Hello out there/I am one week into treatment (had my first chemo Tues) and am suprised at how tired I was today. I drive an hour to Hopkins for my radiation, and had assumed I would be able to make the drive on my own for several more weeks. Any info on when you had to ask for help for the drive--I've read about the extreme exhaustion but figured I would have lots more time before that set in.
Susan/59/nonsmoker /tonsil cancer spread to tongue,stage III diagnosed 6/10, HPV+ T3,N1 Finished 35 radiation and 7 cisplatin 9/7/10.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 | Hi Susan, its best to line up some drivers to help. Contact the American Cancer Society, they might be able to help out too. I was lucky enough to get a driver a few times for my 45 minute trip each way. If I remember correctly, I turned the wheel over to my son sometime around week #2. With the meds and the fatigue, I no longer felt it was safe to drive long distances. Best of luck with your treatments 
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 60 | Thanks, Christine/I always like hearing from you.
Susan/59/nonsmoker /tonsil cancer spread to tongue,stage III diagnosed 6/10, HPV+ T3,N1 Finished 35 radiation and 7 cisplatin 9/7/10.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Susan,
I'm sure you have heard this plenty before but we all can react differently to the same Tx. I drove about the same amount of time each way to Tx and I was able to drive until about the 5th week but I really should have quit a tad sooner. Perhaps you will adjust to being tired or maybe it will continue to get worse, who knows but do line up some drivers soon.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 | Susan, I had about a 40 min drive (in Los Angeles traffic, always amusing) and did it myself until the last 2 days when the Fentanyl was beginning to make me think better of it. I wasn't a hero, I was stupid. Get yourself some drivers.
D2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Altho' I went to all my son's treatments, it was the nausea that encouraged him to turn the driving over to me. Having a nice square plastic dish pan in the car is very useful. If you lay a couple of paper towels in the bottom, clean-up is easier. You could put a smiley face sticker on the outside. And bring a bottle of water. At his last treatment, the hospital staff gave him a graduation present of a plastic dishpan and I always wondered why they hadn't done it sooner! I had been putting lots of towels in the car for the nausea. You might encourage the driver to take it easy over bumps and curves. You might not need any of this - I have heard of people not having any trouble at all but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for eventualities.
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 201 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 201 | Hey Susan,
I would contact the hospital social worker or the social worker for your surgeon. My sister was going to have a tough drive but they found free housing for her through the cancer society. She will be staying near her hospital for free during her treatments. Maybe you could do the same. Hope this helps. Good luck with treatment!!
CG to Sister (42). Smoker quit @ diagnosis Dx 4/20/10 SCC T2N0M0, Rside of tongue Hemigloss R neck dis, all nodes removed 6/2/10, Trach and NG in, home 6/8/10,8/18/2010 start erbitux x6, 30 IMRT end 10/11/10 with only 3x erbitux due to reaction and one week off of rads
1/10/2011 Clear PET!!!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Can't say enough about the ACS with regard to housing for patients and caregivers...they are wonderful!
Definitely consider it.
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
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