| | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 24 Member |  Member
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 24 | You really shouldn't be driving to treatment. I never knew how I was going to feel, sometimes I sleep during the hour long ride home, especially towards the end of treatment. Sleeping doesn't make driving easy of pretty. Now that I am receiving bevacizumab, an avastin drug, everyother week, with absolutely no side effects, I still do not go alone. I find a friend to accompany me, even though I drive. I never know what may happen during or after the chemo. My oncologist strongly suggested that I not come to these treatments alone.
Hang in there, it will get better, eventually.
SCC lf tonsil. Tx started 03/07/07,39 rads,8 docetaxel & 4 bevacizumab. Re-occured 02/19/08 back of throat. Tx35 rads 8 chemo. Tx started 05/05/08. PEG re-inserted April,2007.
| | | | | 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've beeen wondering how you are pete. haven't seen you on for awhile. So far no side affects but when they come I get a driver. Have a great day.
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: 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 just had my 1st bad episode from the rads and chemo. I was takin a pill and not only wouldn't it go down, the water wouldn't either. Thought I was being strangled. I can still feel it and it's been about 45 minutes ago. Any one else experience this? Scares the hell out of a person.
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: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Hi there Tiger.Guess you have just stumbled across yet another delightful side effect of the wonderful world of radiotherapy.
I had all Robs medication prescribed in dissolvable or liquid form,because he couldn't get tablets past the back of his mouth,and they sure taste evil when they start to melt in your throat.
This is an early warning sign that medication and nutrition could be going to be a problem Jim so tell your rad tech today and get some help sooner rather than later.
Your cussed determination may get you to and from your treatment,but it wont keep the pain at bay if you cant get medication into your system.
love liz
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | You can can get liquid forms of the pain meds unless they are timed release. Like Pete mentioned I had the living crap kicked out of me by week 4 and there is no way I could have either driven or tolerated the pain. By that time I was on 75 mcg of Duragesic and taking morphine for breakthrough pain. You have to get out of this denial thing before you kill yourself or somebody else.
Last edited by Gary; 02-14-2008 04:14 PM.
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: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Jim,
I have been through alot from cancer in the past 4 1/2 years. Surgeries, radiation, all of it. You know from reading my posts that I'm pretty tough, can deal with alot and get through alot. So listen to me babe when I tell you that radiation took the wind out of my sails for a period of time and I had to adjust my thinking. I had my daughter drive me, although I do admit I could have driven myself, but I didn't. I didn't start any pain meds until about the third week and the only pain med I used was vicodin BUT that is a medication that shouldn't be used when driving. I had a feeding tube that I used from the third week for all of my nutrition although I did drink water all day long. I also used the mouth rinse, the one that contains lidocaine and some other things that help soothe the mouth. I didn't have IMRT, I had the old fashioned kind of radiation that is brutal. I lost my voice for about a week at the end, hit a time of depression when treatment was over, but I got through it. I stopped pain meds the last day of treatment although I could have used it for a few more weeks. Don't make it harder on yourself, take it from a friend.
Love,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
| | | | | 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 | You all are such great and caring people. I kept my 8AM appt with the surgeon and then went to rads 2hrs early and they took me in and did it. I thanked them for the kindness and wished them all a happy Valentines Day. Told them to give the loves of their lives a special hug today, one they would remember. I have yet to meet anyone I haven't liked.
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: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Like always I forgot something. The Surgeon told me I made the right choice as to my treatment. I asked what the other option was. He said what we are doing or complete removal of my tongue and my voice box. I agree with him and will stick with the plan we chose. He said he wouldn't wish the tongue and voice box removal on anyone.
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: 706 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 | Jim- You seem like such an amazing person. My husband had alot of trouble with swallowing during the treatments but he has a peg and that made it so much easier. Hang in there! Sue
cg to husband, 48 Stage 1V head and neck SCC. First surgery 9/07. Radiation and several rounds of chemo followed. Mets to chest and lungs. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Went home to God on February 22, 2009.
| | | | | 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 advice all and I intend on taking it and using it. Have great day. WOW 1 more day and 2 off LOL
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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