I am also concerned with the delay (2 months already). Time is very valuable! For them, it is routine and they will not understand your concern or your father's pain. Do whatever and have them start by 8/1.

Push to get started. We nagged and got going 4 days earlier. Every little bit helps. You have to advocate for yourself sometimes. Doctors are just people with white coats.

"WHO is my best point person for tomorrow's call to get this moving?"
Our ENT was the lead - he was able to get things moving. Good luck!

Our ENT was the one that pushed too. She said to remember that she is the captain of the ship and so advocates for everything that we need. Just knowing that she listened and helped us get the treatment started was very helpful. We needed to know that someone was listening. She is very positive and that is also an asset when you are so frightened and do not know what to expect. I would call your ENT and also whoever is on your team. Good luck. Do not give up.

Thanks guys, I have been calling and pushing all day. The kicker was when my Mom got a automated call to confirm his treatment start date of 8/1 which was an error. This is ridiculous, my Dad spent his 78th birthday holding his neck in pain whacked out on oxy. I'm going to the hospital admin. Hate being "that person" but you don't get seconds.

Definitely the ent or surgical oncologist - call them all make noise!!! Sometime you have to be the squeaky wheel! good luck!

Thanks everyone. Made a call to the chief of staff's office. We start Tuesday. Be careful what you wish for.

Glad to hear it, Caco - it will be a relief to get moving!

I agree. We felt so much better once we got started. You can't see the end of the tunnel until you are in it. Take each day as it comes. It helped us. My husband continues to swallow some foods as long as they don't make him nauseted. He drinks Carnation VHC (thanks to this forum) and we do some tube feedings. He has not lost that much weight. We are just looking at the end of treatment and then the road back. Stay strong

First day of treatment was like the first day of school: Apprehensive, nice sneakers, new bag, had to fight with him to eat his breakfast. Everyone was very kind and his chemo and rads went off without a hitch. Even the planning session that was the big to do that required two weeks (and was the reason for the delayed start we had to fight to keep on track) went quick and very easy. Place was almost empty too. After rads he came out laughing, as we got him an iphone to get his mind wrapped up during treatment. He took pictures of himself in the face mask...this is a twisted man and they loved him there. Wish is would stay this way.

He was a bit upset that when weighed he learned he lost another 4 pounds before chemo. Before rads he was weighed and gained 8, all in the walk to the department lol. WHAT a disaster the scheduling for chemo/rads/hydration is as the scheduling software for each appears to be on different platforms, it's like road construction that stops after the first mile and fills with potholes. I feel very badly for people who can't or don't have help to work through it. My process improvement mind is going ballistic!