Finally all the waiting is over and we are ready to start. Marvin gets his first rad treatment tommorrow and the we find out what time each day they will be. He will be gettting his firs chemo on his birthday 2/27/07. He is scheduled to get his feeding tube in on March 2. We are both nervous and anxious to have this start and praying for a good out come on the other side. I am sure we will have lots of questions as we go along.

Barb, Marvin
It will be O.K. It'll be tough after a couple of weeks, but you can get through this. We'll all be here when you have questions, or when you just need to vent
Wayne

You and Marvin are in my prayers. Good luck.

Marvin and Barb,
Good Luck today!!
Always,
Mark

Marvin has had 2 rad treatments and will have his first chemo this tuesday. It seems that he is already more tired. He says his mouth is starting to get more dry. So far he can still eat however I think he is eating alittle less. I am thankful for all the info on this site. Each day I find something that will help and also encourage us. I am sure I will be back with several questions as time goes on. Our kids want to help in driving Marvin back and forth to treatments which are about 1hr away but i find it hard to let someone else take him. Maybe this will change as we get into a routine.

Barb, You will get through this. I will be thinking of you and Marvin as he goes for his first chemo treatment. His symptoms will most likely get worse ( the eating, taste, ect.) but they can be managed. As for your children wanting to help out with the driving. When you are ready let them. It will give you some much needed time to do whatever you need to do for yourself. And also it will make your children feel good to know that they are a part of his healing. When I got through with all the treatments, everyone My caregiver(fiance), my sons, brothers, sisters, neices..everyone celebrated because they all were in this with me. They all felt good about doing something helpful when they felt so helpless about not being able to take the cancer from me. Just my experience I thought I would share with you. Take care.

Barb,

I drove myself for a good 3 weeks into the chemo rad. Save yourself for when you are really needed which will be plenty.

I agree with David. I am still driving myself to all of my rad appointments. I have my aunt take me to chemo treatments in case I don't feel good. So far I could have drove myself home. I only have a 40 minute round trip daily but a 1.5 hour trip on Friday and Sunday. My wife is like you, she wants to take care of me all the time. She has her hands full with college and our 19 month old little boy, not to mention worrying about me. There will be a good amount of time after treatment that I will go home and maybe still need some help so she will get to help me some more then. Having said all of that, a friend stopped by about a week ago, my landlord actually, but he said this, "Don't deny me the right and joy of helping you." I understood what he meant and he is right. That is what families and friends do they help and recieve help from one another. Let you kids help, they need to the same way you do and you will really need a break from time to time. And you will deserve one. I know I really think i have it easy, my wife is the one who has it tough. Good luck.

Dear Marvin and Barb, this battle should be a "family affair" in my opinion- If the family is up to it. Experiencing on a daily basis the guts and dertermination it takes to deal with this has a way of unifying everyone involved. Let as many people help as possible or as you are comfortable with. It is a way of sharing the process and it keeps everyone connected. Amy in the Ozarks

Thanks for all the imput. Looks like our 2 kids that are in college will each be taking their turn for the driving while they are home. I will probable go on the days Marvin has a doctors apt just so I get the information straight on those days. Our other son has made arragements where he works to get two 1/2 days off instead of 1 full day and work on saturday to help also. Marvin just had his first chemo today (his birthday)so far so good. But I know the effects can take a few days to show up so we will be watching for them. He slep though most of the first drug because of the meds they gave him before they started. We are starting to get in a routine that will help. Praying for the best out come with least possible bad side effects.