#46645 04-07-2006 08:20 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 | Oxycodone (AKA Vicodin) is kind of lightweight for this stage of his treatment - is it really working for him? Oxycontin or Duragesic (AKA Fentanyl) are much more effective for long term pain relief. I used morphine sulfate for breakthrough pain.
Gary Allsebrook
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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)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#46646 04-08-2006 08:42 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Call anytime Deborah....I will be happy to talk to you. If you think he would... it might be good for your hubby to talk to mine. Pete is real easy to talk to and maybe he can lift his spirits a little.
Take Care
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#46647 04-08-2006 10:29 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 | I wanted to quit at the same stage as well & asked everybody what would happen if I did. Well, I somehow kept going & finished tx. I did stop the last cisplatin round though & my hemonc guy said it was not a good idea, but he would agree to it if I would finish radiation. Those wer'e tough times, no question about it! Never been so low in all my life! Tell him he does not have to care anymore, just that he has to finish. Tell him he can be mad as hell or whatever it takes to just get him to complete the treatment. Tell him I'm pullin' for him! Erik
dx 2/11/04 scca bot T3 IU 2B MO poorly differentiated, margins ok, 3/16 modest, jaw split, over half of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - finished chemo & rad treatment 5/20/04
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#46648 04-08-2006 05:25 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | It never ceases to amaze me how many strong and caring people there are on this forum.I, for one, am very thankful to have found you. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#46649 04-08-2006 06:39 PM | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 306 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 306 | Doborah - He really is in the hardest part right now. Pain should be managed with good oncology. If he is hurting, he should be talking to his doc about it. Suffering is optional.
There are many things to help control nausea. If he is vomiting, he is losing fluids. Getting dehydrated is the very worst thing to do. The slogan in our chemo room was "double your fluids, halve your symptoms" and it truly is true. It has nothing to do with being thirsty - think of the water as a drug. Ask how much he should be taking - you'll be surprised how much! (For me it was 3 liters per day!!)
I had to get over 2600 calories per day - just to have the strength to get out of bed and go to the clinic. Please give some thought to LOTS more water, and lots more calories. The water will help the most. Be strong. You guys can do it. Tom
SCC BOT, mets to neck, T4.
From 3/03: 10wks daily multi-drug chemo,
Then daily chemo with twice daily IMRT for 12 weeks - week on, week off. No surgery. New lung primary 12/07. Searching out tx options.
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#46650 04-09-2006 12:18 PM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 22 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 22 | Thank you so much to all of you, he's in the hospital now, developed infection and fever, so it's just so hard to put one foot in front of the other. Has anyone continued their treatment while in the hospital. I'm afraid he definitely won't finish now. You all know how exhausted we both are, he doesnt want me to leave him for a minute, he's afraid they will make a mistake with his drugs. | | |
#46651 04-09-2006 01:12 PM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 90 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 90 | Deborah
So sorry to hear that - I can only imagine how exhausted you both are - I would seek out the oncologist as much as I could and discuss things going forward. Sure you have probably done that but he has to help decide the next step. He is so close to finishing radiation - Be strong and I will keep you and your family in my prayers
Take Care!
Caregiver to Father:Stage III unknown primary; modified left side neck dissection 2/2006; 8 wk trmts of Erbitux 3/2006 with-37 radition treatments; 11.2010; biopsy of base of tongue results questionable. 9.2013 tumor on left side of tongue; squamous cell cancer. 10.2.2013 Hemiglossectomy(1/2 tongue removed) with reconstruct tongue using left thigh tissue;surgery included IORT.
25 additional IMRT radiation trtmts & 5 wks/chemo. Carbo & Taxol combo.NPO;100% PEG depend;aspiration pneumonia 3/2014
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#46652 04-09-2006 03:19 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Deborah, if you are staying with him in the hospital, insist on a recliner or bed that you can sleep in. No doubt he will do better with you there, but you've got to get some rest in order to stay on tops of the things that are happening. Hang in there. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#46653 04-10-2006 05:17 AM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 60 | Deborah-
I am sorry to hear what you and your husband are going thru. It is such a diffucult journey. The pain was such a horrid part for Charlie, who just finished his treatment on Friday. He woke up around 2 am on tuesday and said "I QUIT!", but there was nothing left to quit.
I pray for you and your husband and let God give you the strengh to finish this out.
Best of wishes!
How much longer does he have now? One week-right?
Delia- Caregiver and fiancee to Charlie ,age 30,(SCC of Larnyx-Stage IV) chemotherapy and radiation- no surgery finished tx:4/7/06 SURVIVIOR!
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#46654 04-10-2006 11:03 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | deb,
Not much to say that already hasnt.
Except this.
You might want to tell him this:
He has reached the point in the treatment where he wont feel any worse by continuing. As bad as he feels right now, is as bad as he is going to feel.
AND, he is going to feel that way for a while weather he finishes or not.
So, for the sake of the family, for the sake of your life, for the sake of your marrige,
get the two more treatments.
I know. I felt exactly the same way. Thats what my doctors told me and it worked. And here I am two years later able to tell my story. Also, Get some stronger pain meds ASAP.
Peace and love to you and yours.
Robert Hamilton
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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