#72586 04-07-2008 12:25 PM | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 13 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 13 | I am now in my 7th (and final!) week of RT.  It's gone pretty fast...I'm still managing to eat the same as I was before...if not more (I've put on so much weight...thank you steroids!) and my throat doesn't hurt too much. My skin is really sore, I can barely move my neck today! The skin finally cracked on Friday and the Nurse said I'll have to start wearing a dressing on it soon. I'm still waiting for the side effects to start really, I keep waking up and expecting my throat to be really painful. etc but so far, I'm alright. I'm not going to get my hopes up though because I know that the side effects peak up to 2 weeks post treatment! Ohhh, I have a question. When did the tiredness set in with you? Lastly, my last chemo on Wednesday. Can't wait for it to all be over 
Hayley, 19. Diagnosed at 18 with cancer of the larynx (T4n2) on 20.11.07 Taxotere, cisplatin and 5FU x 3, carboplatin x 7 and 35 radiotherapy treatments Found out I am in remission on 21.08.08 www.kickingcancersarse.blogspot.com | | | | | 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 | Hayley,
Either you're one very lucky person or they have just had you under a sunlamp the whole time. Lets hope it's the former. Trying to remember back, I think I was more tired and weak post Tx than I was during Tx.
Hope you skate by this whole thing as well as you have so far.
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: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
Hayley:
Bet you are happy that its almost over. For me the last week of radiation was the worst one. Thats when the fatigue really started to kick in. I stayed exhausted for almost 3 weeks after treatments ended. One big thing you have in your favor is your age. Being young you will heal faster and shouldnt suffer as much as someone older. Hang in thre and keep that wonderful attitude you have nad it will be over soon.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 | Haley,
It's so good to read that you are doing better than you expected at this point. I hope that the rest of your treatment will be last time you have to face any unpleasant medical intervention. May you have an easy and speedy recovery and be blessed with a long and healthy life.
Malka
SCC stage II Partial mandibulectomy w. neck dissection- July 2005. Renal cancer w. partial nephrectomy-Jan 2004. Breast cancer discovered in routine mammogram. Successful lumpectomy, sentinal nodes clear, RT only-2008 Reconstruction of mandible w fibula free flap-Jan 09. TORS removal of begnin pappiloma from esophagus-2010. Masectomy,rt breast 2013.
Support OCF
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 179 | Hi Hayley! I have been following your blog... so glad you are almost done with treatments. Dad's neck was pretty red, peeling and sore. He slathered it with the lotions and it did get better pretty quickly. It just looks tan now. He was pretty tired for a good 2 weeks after the treatments ended. But he is slowly getting better. His main problem is gaining weight, but doesn't sound like you have that. Hang in there, it WILL get better. You have such a strong support group! Keep us posted!
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: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Hayley, that is wonderful that you are not experiencing the worst of the side effects. Hurray for you for nearing the end. In terms of fatigue, I was definitely more tired for the month or so after treatment ended than during it. I actually had a bit of insomnia during treatment. I think I was in "fight" mode the whole time and it was hard for me to relax, even though my body may have been tired underneath it all.
Hang in there, although you may be feling worse for a little while, in another seven weeks you'll be up the mend and feeling better........
Nelie
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"
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I wish I was young and tough like you Haley. LOL.. you sure have a positive attitude going for you. Don't lose it and you can whip anything. With me the tired started after the surgery and it might be finally letting up. At least now I can walk by a chair, couch and my bed without them acting like a magnet to my body.
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 | Hope your back for good Jim. Missed your babbling. LOL
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: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | I miss the David/Jim banter. ;-)
Margaret
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C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
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