| Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 | Jim,
My dad has chemo on Tuesdays. One thing that shortens the wait time is to have his blood work done on Mondays. This way they know if he will be ok to have it the next morning. They wont do the blood work on Friday for Monday chemo though. This may be something you want to look into.
Additionally, waiting until you mess up one time driving is not a good idea. One time could be very serious and may not be as simple as just running a red light or missing a turn. The last thing you would want to do is to hurt someone else. I've seen the forgetfulness first hand. The other day mom drove around for almost an hour looking for the place that dad gets his hair cut. He could remember that it was in a white building but he couldn't tell her where it was. He's been living in the same town for 30 years and getting his hair cut in the same place for about 10.
Please contact the pastor of your church and ask for help. As the daughter of a pastor I can tell you that if he can't help you he will find someone who can. It's tough having to ask, but you really need help right now. It snowed here about two weeks ago and my mom didn't feel comfortable driving it it to take dad to radiation. It was so hard for her, but she picked up the phone and asked one of the men at the church if he could drive dad to his treatment. He came right over and helped out.
I wish you nothing but the best.
Joy
CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | PharmGirl.. So far today I have really nothing from the rads and chemo that give me a problem. Not even the rash or dry skin. I really feel great and attribute it to all the prayer chains I am on. Only thing that bothers me is the dryness for the treatments. If you didn't know I have OC, you could never tell it. Thanks for the avice and if I need it in the future, I will do as suggested.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Jim, prayer chains have nothing to do with it. Most of us can maintain some form of autonomy 3 or so weeks into treatment -but you are rapidly approaching the turning point when it is going to get exponentially worse. Please heed the advice of many who have suggested that you line up driver(s). As your pain level goes up, so will your narcotics intake to maintain a bearable pain level. You will be DUI (DWI)at that point if you are not already. Swallow your pride, get out of the denial and get some help. You DID start this topic as "Feeling Terrible" after all. Believe me, as someone who has been there it WILL get a whole lot worse (and I had lots of prayer chains to). I was the only one to survive that the prayer chains in my church were praying for...
Last edited by Gary; 02-10-2008 11:53 AM.
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)
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Well gary, tomorrow starts the 3rd week and I will be ready. Rads and chemo tomorrow , then tues rads and MRI. I never take the pain meds before I drive there within 3 or 4 hrs. I have had so many surgeries on other parts of my body, and 2 of them still hurt a lot. Every body part but my legs . LOL The worst ws the abdominal aortic anneurysm and 2nd my esophagus. My body thinks it's supposed to hurt. With this I will have someone at the ready.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 82 Senior Member (75+ posts) | Senior Member (75+ posts) Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 82 | Don't know how you're doing it bro, but I'm wishing you the best. I do believe you are old enough (we know this) and wise enough (we hope this) to do the right thing. Good luck on the road, and while you're at it... keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel there pal. Again, Godspeed.
John - Proud to be here... Hemiglossectomy 08/02/07, 4 lower molars extracted prior to 6 weeks IMRT 09/10/07-10/19/07, SCC w/met to L neck lymph nodes, rad only, no ND. PEG 10/26/07-02/05/08. "We're all in the same boat in a stormy sea, therefore we owe one another a terrible loyalty."
| | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 179 | Jim, Thinking of you, but be careful driving and take care of yourself, ok??? 
Dad: Age 65 Heavy smoker/drinker. Biopsy-No surgery. Cancer base of tongue/throat. "Invasive Squamous Carcinoma RRT" --Beginning 1/9/08: IMRT treatments (5X/wk),chemo pills (4/day) and Chemo IV (once/wk) PEG tube inserted 1/25/08. Treatments ended 2/26/08
JUNE 30, 2008 Officially CANCER FREE!!! | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I sure will. I have to take care of my mothers son. LOL I sure don't want her reaching down from heaven and shaking me. This morning when I was taking meds, my throat hurt so bad I couldn't tell if I had swallowed the pills or they were stuck in my throat. I will inform the Dr this morning at rads.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Jim,
I felt fine through 2 weeks, most do. As Gary said it's just gets progressively worse and worse each day. I mean it's like you are in a microwave, you keep cooking even when you're not under the gun. Now stop thinking you're superman or you have something to prove to us and get someone, anyone to drive you, PERIOD.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | Jim, some may be lucky and are able to drive to and from treatments. This is quite rare. Since you are already experiencing pain at this point you have recognize that the stuff IS going to hit the fan.
Call the American Cancer Society toll free at 1-800-ACS-2345
This is the ACS office that serves Zip 43713 Central Regional Office 870 Michigan Ave Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (888)227-6446
(you have the above I am pretty sure..... just in case you misplaced it.)
M
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Thanks for the info and advice all. I will call them at the 1st sign of needing help. I drove from the UPMC in Pittsburgh right after surgery had no trouble at all. I don't know if any of you have ever driven in Pittsburgh., but that is the worse traffic I have experienced and always congested, even on their interstates. What I go thru here with traffic is not a bit heavy. But when it's time, I am ready to yell help.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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