| Joined: Jul 2016 Posts: 85 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jul 2016 Posts: 85 | WOW ! You are one organized gal ! Mike is a lucky guy. The effort to get all this set up will pay off in the next few weeks I promise. Wish I had done all that before I started feeling so bad (and constantly sleeping). So nice to hear you are taking advantage of the wonderful help from friends and family. But, most important in the whole post is that the Doctor is starting to see progress. Hang in there and keep us updated.
Sept 2002 Rt breast cancer no chemo or radiation. March 2015 Rt tonsil cancer - walnut size lump rt side neck. March 2015 Scan, biopsy confirm March 2015 Port, G tube placed, 10 teeth removed. July 2015 completed 5 chemo/35 radiations Sept 2015 Cat Scan all clear July 2016 G tube, port still in place Ive had Thyroid "graves disease" and Lupus for many years. 4 kidney stone surgeries past 3 mo with over 100 stones still there !
*** Update... Jo passed away 12/20/17 ... RIP Jo ***
| | | | 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 | Sounds to me like you are one awesome caregiver!!! Great ideas with the gift bag and having everything so convenient.
The testosterone levels in men can take a huge hit from the radiation. I know several male members who have to take a pill ever day for low testosterone levels. Im really surprised the doc wasnt able to give you more info about that. I guess the after rads care when these things take a crap isnt your husbands doctors main focus.
Keep up the good work with pushing your husbands intake. Thats one things that can make a huge difference in how easily he gets thru this. Try to get his intake numbers up to at least 2500 every single day. I know its not easy but it really will help him to take in more calories. Losing 8 pounds in one week is alot of weight!
Hang in there, we are here for both of you to lean on. 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: 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 | I agree with what everyone said, you've got everything pretty much covered!
Along my travels, I have heard about testing testosterone levels, just like Kidneys, hearing, vision, and others that can be impaired from treatment, namely chemo. High doses of Cisplatin i have read can cause low levels of testosterone, fertility problems and such, but so can other conditions, even age. i think more may be researched with testicular cancer. I had my levels checked after treatment, not my request, and I'm not sure which doctor did, may have been the nephrologist, and levels were found low, as were vitamin D, B12, hemaglobin, amongst others, and brought within range.
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: Nov 2016 Posts: 18 Member | OP Member Joined: Nov 2016 Posts: 18 | Welp. Day 12 or 35 radiation today.
Mike went from having a marble in his throat last week to having razor blades this morning. He's been using Motrin and Tylenol to manage pain with a Norco here and there. Today we picked up the liquid Norco. He's been using the magic mouthwash since last week. Tonight we used the pump to get nutrition in. His rapid weight drop has stabilized a bit with just 2 pounds gone this week.
Back for chemo on Monday. I think we are at the beginning of the tough road we've heard about. Deep sigh.
Caregiver to my husband, Mike He is: 56 years old Non smoker/social drinker Hpv - SCC BOT N2C Stage 4 Dx 10/14/16 Rx of 35 days Rad & 3 rounds of cisplatin Treatment started 11/7/16 PEG installed 11/2/16
| | | | Joined: Nov 2016 Posts: 4 Member | Member Joined: Nov 2016 Posts: 4 | Hi Julie916, this Karen, I am glad you found out this platform to express your feelings.
Last edited by ChristineB; 11-29-2016 03:07 AM. Reason: removed religion from post
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