#4471 12-14-2004 01:55 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 64 | I havaen't been able to visit the forum since before Thanksgiving. It looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.
Jack picked up an infection in his blood...probaly from his compromised immune system. He was hospitalized a few days and now goes to the hospital every 12 hours for IV antibiotics. Fortunately he had one of his "episodes" with chills and fever right in the doctors office so they knew he was really sick.
He is also continueing radiation...5 to go.
He isn't as burned as he was last time, but he has the huge amount of sticky mucus that many of you have written about. We rented a suction machine to help keep his mouth and trach clear.
They have discontinued the chemo because of this infection and his low blood counts. The Plavix and Neupogen have helped a little, but none of the treatments they tried to bring up the platelet count were successful. We sure wish he could tolerate more of it. Radiation wasn't successful without chemo his last go round.
Still hanging in there.
Lowanne | | |
#4472 12-14-2004 03:42 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Hi Lowanne
Thanks for finding the time to update us, sorry tht Jack picked up an infection and I hope the antibiotcs kick in soon, so he can make good progress again with his treatment. Don't forget to look after yourself while this is all happening...
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
| | |
#4473 12-14-2004 06:21 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Hi Lowanne
We went thru the same thing , scary isn`t it. I am glad Jack is not an in-patient in the hospital, more germs there than anywhere.
Hang in Lowanne better times are coming. Take care of yourself.
Love
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
| | |
#4474 12-15-2004 05:42 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Welcome back Lowanne,
Sorry to hear about Jack. Glad he's only got 5 rad treatments left. You should start to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Remember the golden rule. ( one month of recovery for every week of radiation. Alot of us suffer through some depression when treatment is finished. If not already on them plan on getting some anti-depressants to help both of you through this period.
I hope you and your family can enjoy the holidays as best you can.
Love Ya, Danny Boy
p.s. Brian is mailing out brochures to members who would like to help with the OCF fund drive for 2005. You can email Brian and request some from him if you have the time to help.
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
| | |
#4475 12-15-2004 07:33 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Lowanne,
I posted last night but it didn't seem to make it so I will try again. I am sorry to see some of the new challenges you are facing. Thanks for the update. I have been thinking about you guys and hoping everything is going as good as it can. Wishing you the best possible holidays.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | |
#4476 12-18-2004 07:20 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Lowanne, sorry to hear about your challenges. Will pray they all turn out well. Have you tried Procrit to improve the blood counts? I've used it twice and while it is very expensive, it has brought my white cell counts back up to normal levels each time. The increase in energy levels was worth all of the aggrevation. One shot per week for 7 weeks the first time and 4 weeks the second. Worth every injection times 10.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,252 Posts197,147 Members13,332 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
