#56381 04-26-2005 04:59 PM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 56 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 56 | The tube is out!!!! Hooray!
I wanted to let you guys know that Dan's tube was removed during his appt on Friday. He said it only pinched for a second. The site looks great and he isn't having any problems there, thank goodness.
They are not going to scan Dan (PET CT) for another 6 wks. Dan completed rad and chemo on March 1st. Isn't this an awfully long time to wait???? Also, Dan did have some intermittant ear pain which lasted about 1-2 wks. This was a concern to the ENT on Friday, but since that time, he hasn't been complaining about it. He dosen't have another appt until mid-May when he sees the RadOnc for a follow-up. Am I just being a paranoid wife, or should I insist on one of the doctors seeing him sooner????? Your thoughts?
Thanks Folks for your input!
Michelle G.
Michelle
| | |
#56382 04-26-2005 07:59 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 | Hi Michelle,
sounds like he's right on track. PET/CT's often have false positives when given too early. Healing scar tissue will light it up.
The ear pain is pretty typical also in the early post Tx. I had the same thing. The eustacian tubes are damaged by the radiation causing fluid build up and will need to regenerate. It never hurts to run these things by the ENT. They may even have some meds to help out a little.
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)
| | |
#56383 04-27-2005 07:53 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hello Michelle,
Gary's advice is sound. They usually wait a few months due to the false positives the scans can give so close to end of treatment.
Mid May is just around the corner. The waiting sucks but it's normal prcedure. Hope Dan is eating enough to maintain and or gain some weight. He will start to feel better each week that goes by.
Best Wishes, Danny Boy
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
| | |
#56384 04-27-2005 08:06 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 100 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 100 | Michelle,
Rods tx was finished on July 12, 04. His doctor did not do the pet scan until November
1 st.So I guess it is routine. I agree with Danny, he will notice as each week goes by he will start to feel better. Eat as much possible to help healing. God bless!Maureen
maureen (friend to Rod SCC tonsil diag. Mar 04 stage 4 -concurrent rad. & chemo) Finished tx July 04
| | |
#56385 04-28-2005 09:43 PM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | fwiw, MY ENT at our last meeting said he'd want to wait 4 months after tx before giving me a PET/CT.
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
| | |
#56386 04-29-2005 03:16 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2 Member | | Member
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2 | I'm the caregiver for a head/neck cancer patient. His radiation ended 4 weeks ago and we thought progress would be better. He developed strep throat, which was treated by a strong dose of penicillin and then developed oral thrush. We have those behind us and he was beginning to rally and try to eat by mouth, but now he has the shakes and is extremely ill with chills. I don't know if this is just the fatige for all he has been through and is normal or not. | | |
#56387 06-22-2005 08:30 AM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 30 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 30 | Don't rush the eating. The ability and desire will come slowly--very slowly. And there will be setbacks like you described. I would be concerned about the chills, etc. if the doctor hasn't been contacted. At 4 weeks out, my husband was still a very sick man! He had started to feel that maybe he was getting some better but just barely! He's 1 year out this week-end and still has PEG; eats only about 1/2 c. food a day (if that much). But your patient WILL get better. It just takes a long time. My husband stayed out of work until 8 mo. after radiation and chemo. Then went back on light duty. So, you see, there IS hope; it just takes time. | | |
#56388 06-22-2005 04:23 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 | Is he being taken off of pain meds right now? That sounds a lot like my withdrawal symptoms when I wanted off my opiates too fast...
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,253 Posts197,151 Members13,338 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
