My husband starts radiation and chemo (cisplatin) next week. I'm not concerned about the cisplatin infusion but can y'all walk me through a radiation session? We've been through the sim (obviously) so he's prepared to be bolted down with the mask, but can you expand on your experiences?

Is it noisy, like a CT? Are the lights very bright? What does it feel like, for both the neck and inside the mouth? I know it's not going to hurt during the session, but does the table vibrate or anything? Weird smells or tastes during the session?

We have an ativan prescription but he's hesitant to take it. Would you recommend it for the 1st treatment, or wait until he sees how he handles it?

Thanks in advance.

Other than being strapped down the sessions at first are nothing to worry about. Music can help pass the time. Most centers will play music during the sessions. Make sure you ask.

I smelled a little "burning" after my first session but didn't notice anything like that in later sessions.

Some noise, not too bad. It was always cold in that room but it may have been me as the pain medications slow circulation so it's harder to stay warm. I always smelled ozone, which is used a lot in the hotel business to deodorize rooms which is why I even noticed. Near the end I was just so tired every time I went in the last two weeks I slept as soon as I was strapped in.

I Had to put a bathrobe or gown on, with no shirt, metals, and it was cold being in the basement, and kept cool. They asked if you wanted a blanket. Then you lay down on the slide table, the mask is out on, some get mouth stick too, and physical alignments are made..some get tattoos too, I did. Then the door is closed, and techs Leave, and monitor you by audio and video. The table is repositioned or aligned, and a scan is done. the IMRT UFO hovers around, positions itself, and then zaps you. The number of zaps depends where they are radiating in the H&N, and if bilateral sides, which I had. Took a total of 18 zaps, which was the longest time in the world, by the time I finished, I was sweating, partly due to tumor pain. I did not take Ativan or anything for other reasons. The music was the worst, so ask if you can bring your own. The zaps makes a notable humming noise, but nothing like the MRI, and is painless..at least the process. The radiation is cumulative, so the toxicities will build up, and RO will tell you how to manage them..creams, pain meds, nutrition. The techs helped me off the table since I was always dizzy, and always helped me out. Then once a week, more if needed, you will see th RO. If so equipped, they can spray your mouth a few times a week to help the Mucocitis, , and mine even hydrated you by IV infusion, a few times.

Best of luck!

Heather - by now your husband has had a couple of days of rads. Can you tell us how he's doing?

Oh, I brought my iPod and small speakers in, since they wouldn't let me use the earbuds, and listened at first to music and then an audio book. Really helped a lot!

He's doing well so far, thanks. The scar from his neck dissection is a bit tender and he says his neck feels "warm" but nothing too alarming yet. The dry mouth kicked in pretty much right away but we're staying on top of the Caphasol and drinking a lot of water and so far it's managable.

I asked him if he wanted to bring his iPod but he said no. He had an Ativan yesterday before radiation because yesterday was his first chemo treatment, but overall he's not claustrophobic and the machine and mask don't alarm him.

Right now the worst thing we're dealing with is, the chemo seems to have given him hiccups!! He didn't get a lot of sleep last night because of it, so tonight might need to be an Ativan night so that he can sleep. And honestly, if the worst thing that comes out of chemo is chronic hiccups...we will take it!!

Sounds like your husband is doing fairly well. The hiccups can be from the Decadron, a corticosteroid, if he is getting that with the chemo infusion or a barbiturate, amongst others. I haven't heard in much of treatment, except Thorazine, which, have their own side effects, Neurontin too, which I take for neuropathy.

Bill had terrible hiccups as well. MO prescribed Thorazine for them...worked very well.

Kris had intractable hiccups. Treated them with Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine, Metoclopramide and Lorazepam. None of this worked, but Kris was so sedated they became more tolerable. They lasted 2 weeks and occurred with each dose of chemo . Best of luck,
Tammy

Yep, we have a thorazine prescription now...made my 3rd trip to Walgreens in 2 days to pick it up at 9 pm.