| | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |  Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Ambra, congrats on finishing your treatments!!!!!
Im so sorry you are hurting. Its okay to cry and I feel bad that you are embarrassed to cry in front of others. Being in pain and crying is a normal reaction to feeling pain. Put any shame aside and know you are not the first one to ever cry when you hurt. Im certain the radiation techs and nurses have seen many patients cry for far lessor things. To me, I think you are very brave for attempting to hold in your tears.
We all for some odd reason take our masks home. I still have mine and Im 6 years out. I do use it too. When I go speak at schools I will pull it out. The kids are shocked when they hear me tell them about the horrors of rads.
I know you probably feel lousy right now and will for the next few weeks but please dont lose your focus on your intake. Every single day for the next year you must continue to take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. if you can push yourself to take more in thats even better and will help you with speeding your recovery. Adding high protein whey powder to drinks also helps but check it with your doc if its ok.
Best wishes with your recovery!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Ambra,
I'm glad to hear you are done with RT. I'm sure it seemed like 7 months instead of 7 weeks, but you are now done and now time to heal. I'm sure you know that it will likely get worse for the next week or two, before you start feeling better - but you will, so hang in there!
As others have pointed out, NUTRITION - HYDRATION - PAIN MANAGEMENT is important now. Yes, the pain is bad so don't feel embarrassed for crying - I did!
Also, forget about the statistics - 5% is low. Glad you are getting the scan in 3 months as it will give you peace of mind. Just stay vigilant in the future and contact your doctor if you notice anything unusual or of concern to you.
I have my mask also and will take it out from time to time. It reminds me of what I went through and that I am a strong person. Some people change it into an art piece.
Now, just rest and heal.
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0
Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV-
Surgery: June 2005
RT: Feb-Apr 2006
HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105!
Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010
Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia
Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia
Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 76 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 76 | Ambra.
Congratulations on finishing treatment. You have some amazing endurance. All the best to you as the healing begins. Be patient with yourself.
Best,
Mary
Mary
Caregiver to husband, 60
Dx Sept '12 SCC BOT T2N2aMo, Stage IV, HPV+
Oct '12 Sub.Gland transfer
Nov-Dec '12 IMRT x 33 + cisplatin x7
March '13 PET/CT: 2 spots on lungs; (BOT & neck lymphs NED)
April '13 Biopsy: 1 = malignant right hilar lymph (met from HNSCC)p16
9/13: 33 rounds IMRT to lungs; carboplatinx7
CT w/contrast 12/30/13: 2 spots left hilar lymph. biopsy confirms SCC
30 rounds IMRT to left lung; treatment ended 5/29/14
Sept 2014--CT clear; December 2014 CT clear
| | | | | 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 | Congratulations on completing radiation, Ambra!
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: Aug 2011 Posts: 269 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 269 | So happy you have moved into the recovery phase. I echo cheryld "time to heal"
Thinking of you daily.
Nancy (53 at dx)
Metastatic SCC. Stage III. HPV positive with occult primary. N1, no ecs
7/1/11 - L-Selective neck dissection. Tonsillectomy. All clean. No rad, no chemo.
5/29/13 - Found primary
7/3/13 - TORS
7/8/13 - Emergency Surgery/Blood vessel burst in throat
8/9/13 - Peg in
9/3/13 - Radiation starts 30 IMRT, 60gy BOT, 56gy both sides of neck
10/14/13 - Radiation ended!
11/12/13 - PEG out!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 26 | One more for hearty congratulations and for giving yourself time to heal. This experience can feel like (or maybe it does) leave a trail of PTSD. Be gentle and understanding with yourself.
SCC Started in the right tonsil they think, T1N2bM1
HPV+
Lots of nodes involved including some near the carotid - didn't come out during neck dissection
Distant Met's - one in the mediastinum, some suspicious stuff in the lungs
Radiation 70 Gy in 35 fraction
Cisplatin - 3
Stereotactic rad to the mediastinum
Clean PET Apr 13
Clean PET Aug 13
Clean PET Dec 13
Clean CT with contrast Mar 14
Clean CT with contrast Sept 14
Clean CT with contrast Feb 15
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 | Did I say yeah? Woot! and do a happy dance for you? If not... consider it done... congrats... now heal.. and be patient. 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: Sep 2013 Posts: 94 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 94 | Dear friends,
I have wanted to thank you so much for all the kind of words and support and congratulations. It means the world to me.
It is probably the time for me to stop posting on this particular thread. I am feeling decent so far. The neck burn is healing.
I do have problems with mouth dryness which I will start a new thread about in the " immediately post-treatment" section of the forum.
And, unfortunately, I found a hard small lump under my chin last night that I am hoping with all of my heart is only a nasty under-skin zit. I have already started a new thread about that in the "Symptoms and Diagnosis" section. I am very scared right now, but keep repeating to myself that it has to be a zit, till I can find out for sure. Hopefully that is what it turns out to be, but this is a way-to-soon experience of post-treatment fear of every small issue. I admire you all for living with this and overcoming this every single day. You are one brave bunch.
Last edited by Ambra; 12-14-2013 11:30 AM.
36, female, left tonsil HPV+ SCC, T2N1
8/28/13 SCC in left tonsil
9/12/13 surgery:TORS and selective neck dissection (levels II-IV), 23 nodes removed
9/18/13 post surgery biopsy: 2mm clear margins, a 7mm lymph node positive in level IV, no ECL
10/28/13 rad begins, 30 treatments, tomotherapy
12/09/13 radiation ends!
2/10/14 papillary thyroid cancer
2/26/14 PET shows clear neck other than thyroid cancer, but with high uptake in an ovarian cyst
2/27/14 thyroidectomy
3/5/14 pelvic ultrasound
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