#18677 10-25-2005 12:08 PM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Bob,
Just answering from my own experience, the first week of radiation there really weren't any bad side effects. However, chemo started the same time and I had a lot of nausea and vomiting from that, especially the first round before they started giving me Zofran, during the first week. So it wasn't an easy week. Some people have a much easier time with chemo, though.
I think the easiest week was the second week because I still only had relatively mild symptoms from radiation and the nausea from the chemo had mostly ended. By the third week, the mucositis started pretty badly, I needed more serious pain meds, and I also was fighting a urinary tract infection caused mostly by low white blood cells. From there on in it got worse, sorry to say.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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#18678 10-25-2005 01:12 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 | Bob,
For me,the first 2 to 3 weeks were not so difficult as expected as I could still drive to the hospital for treatment. After each shot of the cisplatin, I had nausea for 2 days that followed. The chemo doctor prescribed some anti-nausea medicine for me to take before each meal. I remember throwing up twice during the whole treatment. Not that bad after all. Physically, there wasn't much pain, but mentally, I seemed to be another person without any motivation to do anything. Very tired and wasn't interested in things around. Everyone's reaction to the treatment varies a great deal Just hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Karen
Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.
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#18679 10-25-2005 02:21 PM | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Member | | Member
Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 | Thanks, Karen and Nelie. It's good to have an idea of what to expect.
bob | | |
#18680 10-25-2005 03:33 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Bob, Please note that some of us went through fairly smoothly without major problems. Yes fatigue will likely come, within 2 or so weeks. in the later weeks sore throat and possibly mucositis. Hopefully, she will have the less severe side effects.
In addition she may recover quite quickly at the end. There is a rule-of-thumb that says 1 week of recovery for each week of treatment. I felt much better within weeks (70%) but 95% took months. Each person is a little different in how they respond.
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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#18681 10-26-2005 01:43 PM | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Member | | Member
Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 | Mark,
Thanks for the input. I do understand that there are a wide range of possible reactions to the treatment. We hope for the milder end of the spectrum, but want to be prepared.
bob | | |
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