I met with my local oncologist on Tuesday, who offered to do Carboplatin, once a week, where I live, locally, instead of me going into Manhattan, which can be a nightmare to get to during the holidays, and in opposite direction of New Jersey where I need to go for Proton Treatment everyday. Considered staying at Hope Lodge in Manhattan on 32nd street, if available, and commute to NJ by foot, train, taxi. which would be a trek, and costly to boot, and nothing is free, cheap, except Hope Lodge, with any option, but my oncologist didn't think staying, commuting by myself was a good idea anyway. Planning is worse than treatment sometimes.

Blood work shows my hemoglobin is dropping from 11.5, my highest in years in September, after being transfused in May, and now is 9.2, but still no need for an injection or transfusion, but the trend has been, I will, especially with rads, chemo, and neither is good for cancer, so they usually wait until it gets below 8, 7, but really anytime under 10, if the patient in distress, like shortness of breath, etc., and is considered an emergency. Mine was 7.5, last year during treatment, until I had two transfusions, and really felt I needed it! During my acute kidney failure in May, my hemoglobin was 6.2, and didn't know I needed one, I didn't feel in distress.

Bless you, Paul for the time you give to us in answering questions and support, when you have so much on you own plate. YOU are an angel. Good luck with it all.

Thank you Samkl. It helps me to help others, and basically why I post, and for future reference, and hopefully doing so will help others now or in the future.

I had a swallow study done today, modified barium swallow, which SLP, actually a Phd, and Radiologist, found that some food does get caught up around my epiglotis, due to radiation, and goes into my windpipe causing my chocking, and right side was working fine. The SLP had me turn my head to the left, my most radiated, and only surgical side, to swallow, and swallowed perfectly. In fact, it worked so well, the SLP, who also a researcher, done many studies, abstracts, book collaborations, wants to use my video to show how well this technique works, which I had no problem signing away. SLP also commentated that my swallowing is quite good with all I went through.

I'm also in a follow study for Proton Radiation, and have to do nothing. There are so few studies with Proton therapy treatment that they want to follow patients until 2017.

I told my hospital social worker, and oncologist's secretary that I wasn't going to have chemo at the hospital, and opted for local treatment instead since the commute would be too much, and take 4 hours minimum turnaround, and still need to get to NJ for radiation, and both understood. Hopefully the doctor will too, and the SW said to do what works for me, not the hospital. He did say he will be in contact with ProCure's social worker in regards to housing, transportation, and hopefully the 5 major NYC hospitals involved will come up with alternatives, and said I was the first patient from my hospital being sent to NJ for Proton treatment.

Th next week will be busy. I have a blood test tomorrow. On Thursday I have appointments to see the dental oncologist since my teeth are hurting, and just want him to take a look at everything being I'll be doing Chemoradiation soon, and for him to know HBO, and extractions will be on hold since that was supposed to be done after surgery. The same day, same offices, I will see my ENT, probably look at the swallow study, give his blessings for radiation, but my case(s) are often brought up at the tumor board meetings, but when I last saw him three weeks ago, radiation, chemo was not mentioned yet. On Monday, I see my PCP, Tuesday my local oncologist, who is also my hemotologist for 6 years, I have chronic anemia, and then on Wednesday, I have chemo orientation with the nursing staff, and to sign papers.

I still want to see the cardiologist before treatment starts, regarding my dissected carotid, high Bp, and with my nephrologist, although my kidney levels are improving, they are still high, and at my base levels now with creatinine at 2.3 and GFR at 31, but not 7.2 they were in May, 8 GFR, I was lucky not to be put on dialysis, and have chronic kidney disease anyway, so I can see chemo effecting them, other blood levels too, and another reason feeling comfortable having chemo close to home with all my other doctors around.

One question, what additional anti medications do they give you with weekly Carboplatin?

I don't have the answer to your Carboplatin question. I'm glad the swallow test went well and best wishes for everything else to flow smoothly this week and into treatment soon!

Did you by chance ask about the air bubble thing with your SLP?

No. I forgot. I don't like early tests, 9:30am, and arrived at 9am. I need breakfast to function, a few cups of coffee, otherwise that's all I think about. I have to keep that in mind for treatment. No early appointments 10-11 is good.

Wow Paul. That sure is a busy week they have planned for you. All necessary to ensure the curative treatment gets done right first time.
Hope you get some breathing space to just rest and relax. And of course eat.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers,
Tammy

Thanks Tammy. This has been my schedule basically for four years, sometimes with even more visits, sometimes less, depending what's going on, and does get tiring with 8 specialists. Last night I had to take a pain pill, Oxycodone, and Gabapentin, since by the end the day my feet hurt more. That was from standing to take the test, and traveling to my hospital, a four hour turn around, but was quick compared to other times. I'm used to it, sort of.

father in law had weekly carbo in addition they gave him...

benadryl (loading dose)(only through IV)

Ondasetron HDL
Prochlorperazine
dexamethasone

Thanks. I had these before, and didn't think I'd get away with none this time either.