| Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 | Matt's platelet count has been too low and today they finally gave him a shot to boost his red blood cell production. He'd been on tx this time since March.
I'm a little worried that his body is giving out due to the chemo.
CG to my husband, Matt. Dx June 2009 Stage IV Oropharengeal SCC right tonsil primary with distant metastases. Rad to neck- Surgeries to lungs- Every avail chemo - ran out of options Jan 2012, called for hospice help Feb 2012, at rest March 19, 2012.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 58 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 58 | Oh Christine, I can so relate with you about this! I'm glad they gave him a booster for RBC's - that should help alot.
Hang in there and know that many prayers are going up right now.
Bonnie
CG to husb John, 57, love of my life for 35 yrs. Dx 2/10, T2N2cMx, SCC BOT & lymph nodes. Non smoker. Biopsy HPV+. No surgery - IMRT 35X + 7 chemos cleared BOT 9/10-mets to lungs. 2 rounds chemo, last one trial drug which did not work.
Lost the battle, but walking in Glory 9/7/11.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Ditto - saying prayers and sending blessings your way!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | Good luck to Matt.
My Alex was also given a booster shot during his first 2cycles of chemo. I wrote it down as "GCSF hormone to boost immune system" but I am not sure if I got it right at the time (a lot going on that day). IF this is the same as Matt, thought I would share Alex's experience with the stuff.
On top of chemo, it made Alex extremely tired and he complained his "bones ached". However, he got through his planned 3 chemo rounds, 1 bonus round and then went on to chemoradiation and got through 5 out of 6 doses of cisplatin. Obviously the stuff worked, even though it made him really ill.
I guess I am writing this to let you know that if Matt gets sick, it will be sign it is working not a sign things are going downhill.
Again, good luck
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED ![smile smile](/forums/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif) Still underweight
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 | Thanks Karen! And Cheryl and Bonnie!
His spirits are high and physically he's feeling strong and well.
Praise God for that! =) We are grateful.
CG to my husband, Matt. Dx June 2009 Stage IV Oropharengeal SCC right tonsil primary with distant metastases. Rad to neck- Surgeries to lungs- Every avail chemo - ran out of options Jan 2012, called for hospice help Feb 2012, at rest March 19, 2012.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | That's great - glad he's feeling well... Saying another prayer! He will cube able to start back at chemo soon. Hugs!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 | Still waiting... platelets were 68 last time... will find out more tomorrow.
CG to my husband, Matt. Dx June 2009 Stage IV Oropharengeal SCC right tonsil primary with distant metastases. Rad to neck- Surgeries to lungs- Every avail chemo - ran out of options Jan 2012, called for hospice help Feb 2012, at rest March 19, 2012.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | fingers crossed his bloodwork is good!!! prayers to you.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 280 | Blood work came back okay. He got a new oncologist too. A young man who was very thorough and thoughtful. Had new ideas to help prevent Matt from spending two weeks knocked down from treatment every three weeks. So far so good! Got a full dose of chemo Wednesday then a booster shot for WBC yesterday. New MO says that if the fevers and fatigue continue he will change the dosing schedule to smaller doses weekly and that should really help. PTL there is hope!
CG to my husband, Matt. Dx June 2009 Stage IV Oropharengeal SCC right tonsil primary with distant metastases. Rad to neck- Surgeries to lungs- Every avail chemo - ran out of options Jan 2012, called for hospice help Feb 2012, at rest March 19, 2012.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | That is awesome more prayers coming your way... Hugs to you... Any step is a step in in right direction!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 | <<new ideas to help prevent Matt from spending two weeks knocked down from treatment>>
C, can you share a bit what his new oncologist did to help him?
Dad got his first of 7 cisplatins this tuesday and by this Thursday afternoon was feeling lethargic, a bit nauseous and VERY depressed. he's sleeping alot and has had little conversation with anyone in the past two days, which is not like him at all. we were hoping for a few decent weeks before the rads kicked in and i'm beginning to get concerned. TIA
Caco CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
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