#38879 08-02-2005 10:15 AM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | I'm going to the lab today to fill an order for blood work that the surgeon at Sloan asked me to get before my G-Tube surgery Monday.
I asked my local GP if there was anything else we should we add to the blood work prior to starting radiation, chemo, etc. He said he has no idea.
I thought maybe we should do something to establish a baseline and wondered what would be good to check...
CBC (white & red blood cells) etc?
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#38880 08-02-2005 10:27 AM | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 497 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) Joined: May 2005 Posts: 497 | I have no idea Michael. I had a complete blood test plus Aids and Hep.C before they started on me. Good thing since they found the diabedes (which I never had before not even a month beofre) and the elevated cholestrol which mine was always normal before too.
Good luck with your coming treatment. I am happy to say I have 29 down and 4 to go. I am in need of a rest too I can tell ya.
God bless, Barb~
[i]"The artist, a traveler on this earth, leaves behind imperishable traces of his being." -Fran
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#38881 08-02-2005 10:37 AM | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 35 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 35 | With me they allways ran 2 tubes and one was a CBC but cant remember the other. But they still will do blood work the morning of your chemo regardless of when you had a previous one done. I tried that to speed up the process with no luck. Good luck to you | | |
#38882 08-02-2005 11:23 AM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Congrats Barb!
You're almost there!! I thought they stopped for a while, are you resumed now?
Eitherway, it must be nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Bob, you must known me :-)
I'm always trying to speed things along, but with Drs it doesn't usually work :p
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#38883 08-02-2005 12:19 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I am confused why your gp is ordering these and not your oncologist. The oncologist typically becomes the PCP until you are out of the woods from a blood chemistry perspective. In case you don't know, your basic "team" should consist of:
1. Oncologist 2. Radiation Oncologist 3. Head & Neck Surgeon or ENT 4. Nutitrionist
The above folks you should see weekly during treatment.
Your extended team are:
1. Radiologist
2. Radiology Technician(s)
3. Advice nurse(s)
4. Chemotherapy nurses
They handle the day to day stuff (except the radiologist of course which is "as needed"
There is no gp in that list.
You need a creatinine clearance as well and they insisted on a Hep C test for me as well (which I tested positive for much to my surprise). That was a real downer finding that one out.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#38884 08-02-2005 12:39 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 | Hello Michael
Make sure your thyroid levels are recorded before you begin radiation. I was very hypothyroidic a few months after radiation but hadn't been tested beforehand so don't know which came first. Symptoms are easily mistaken for post-radiation woes and just prolonged my recovery.
Best wishes for your treatment, love from Helen
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#38885 08-02-2005 02:49 PM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Gary, It's simply logistics since I'm back in Mendocino for a few days before returning to NY.
The local hospital won't accept Drs orders from an out-of-state Dr, (oh, yeah, you can bet I exploded all over them for that one!!) By law, you don't even HAVE to have a Dr's order to get your own blood drawn!!! It's just most labs have that policy in place to limit liability (read = Spread the Blame)... And of course, the insurance companies! (Don't get me started)
Either way, the local GP is such a goof ball, but at least he responds to my requests...
I WON'T be seeing him long term! Just every once in a while for things like this, and the EKG I'm getting this week, prior to the PEG tube surgery.
So, to answer your post, yes, the team is basically what you stated, although I haven't met a nutritionist yet, (most likely it will be surrouding the G Tube).
I'll ask for the HEP test, just to rule it out...Ouch! Sorry to hear about yours...must have been a shock, huh?
Do you take anything, or just watch your Liver profile?
Helen, as always, your insight and wishes are warmly received!! I'll get the Thyroid panel done too, what the heck?! It's going on a credit card anyway :-P
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#38886 08-02-2005 02:58 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 | Ditto on the Thyroid tests and make them do the detailed test not just the basic test. I have spent countless days not feeling "right" since the radiation ended. It was 2 years after that the thyroid hormones were looked at (my request) and found to be severely hypothyroid. Without a target value based upom a pre-event test it was guesswork for many months (and continues to be) I regret this more than any other (mal)treatment I received. such a simple thing over looked by so many for so long.
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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#38887 08-02-2005 04:29 PM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Thanks Mark! This is EXACTLY the kind of simple thing I want to avoid overlooking. With so many Drs, (as part of the team), it spreads the responsibility and sometimes, it's easy to fall into the ever-human-trait of thinking "someone else will take care of it"... It reminds me of another SIMPLE oversight I learned of recently: I decided I wanted to have my tumor checked for possibly chemo agents that are effective against it specifically. Unfortunately, since it was frozen by the surgeons path team, it destroyed the effectiveness of this type of testing and virtually destroyed my chances of using this amazing technology! http://www.rational-t.com/about_us/about_rt.htm Oh, well...Guess that's the good news...IF I ever get another tumor (recurrance) I can do that then :-P (Let's hope and pray I never have that option)
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#38888 08-02-2005 07:29 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Liver's fine - hummin' along. I don't mess with it and it don't mess with me. They check it every 6 months along with a TSH test (that Mark was talking about - and he is absolutely correct - you should have a baseline TSH test).
The hep C has been asymptomatic for over 30 years now. The Onc. says there are over 5 million undx'd cases out there - claims that hep C is the "new frontier" of medicine. They gave me an antibody screening first then followed it up with a DNA/PCR test which is much more accurate for verification.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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