| | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 33 | It has been a while since I last posted on this forum. I finally finished radiation at the end of February. I was given the maximum dosage of 7700 and had about 40 treatments. They put me on a 5 week break from chemotherapy (Cisplatin) and on Monday I start again, with Taxotere and 5-FU thrown into the mix. I'll have the 5-FU connected to my port until Friday and then I'll be on a two week break. I'll go through that cycle two more times and then I'm done.
It was a long, long winter. I never ended up taking anything for pain. Everything made me nauseous, so I slept a lot and watched a ton of tv. I'm glad that phase is over.
From what I hear and have read on this forum, this chemo mix is tough, but I already know tough, so bring it on and let's kill every last cancer cell in my body!
10/2/12 Surgery Dx Stage II SCC RLT
11/12/12 Further tongue resec and SND. 3 of 22 lymph + SCC Stage IVa
11/22/12 Hospitalized for infection incision at neck
12/5/13 PET scan tumor at BOT
12/26/12-2/27/13 RT and Cisplatin
4/1/13-5/17/13 3 rounds of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5-FU
7/19/13 Pet Scan possible recurrence
8/23/13 2nd op at MSKCC, CT Scan
8/31/13 MRI. Both show sizeable mass
9/11/13 CT-guided needle BX + SCC
10/1/13 Erbitux, Cisplatin and Taxotere
2/14/14 Passed away
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | They don't call it "FU" for nothing lol. You may see different side effects with the addition of these two drug combinations, like "hand and foot syndrome", neuropathy, hair loss, others, as opposed to Cisplatin alone, and hopefully none of these. This treatment actually sounds like TPF induction Chemo with Taxotere. Cisplatin, 5-FU, which I had, and can be controversial, debatable, and is usually given as neoadunct, not adjunct therapy, but heard of it being given to unresponsive tumors. One thing I heard is that cancer cells can't be killed twice, so this may be excessive chemo, but your doctor knows better than me.
Good luck with everything.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | Katie these chemos are tough, no lie. Kevin had trouble with inflammation in his colon, and then had an outbreak of cold sores, which he's never had. He was given a herpes med for a week and it cleared it up. One of the most important things is keeping the fluids going, especially if you are vomiting and/or having diarrhea. Kevin got fluids 3x a week.
Hang in there. Please stay in touch this time.
Kathy
Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
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