#74484 05-16-2008 11:40 AM | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | Hi,
My father completed his treatment for T2N1M0 staged cancer on base tongue, He went thru 2 chemo cycles(after which the main tumor was reduced by 60% and the lymphnode was gone) and 7 weeks of radiation which ended on 26th April 08.
As soon as the radiation was over he was admitted to hospital because of low sodium count. it took a week to get the sodium back but during this time he started getting alot of secretions which were so thich tat he cld not spit it out they had to frequently(20-30mins) get it out thru the suction machine.
Because of the secretions his Resp rate is also abit on higher side, and if we get him home he might aspirate the secretions.(also hes become alot weak after the sodium issue)
Its been almost 20 days after the radiation, but the secretions are still there(slightly reduced) and hes still in hospital because of it.
Has anybody else faced similar issue ?
How long does it take for the secretion to come back to normal ?
Could some one please advise ?
Thanks in advance ....
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | It could be 1-2 months before the thick saliva stops. Many here have rented or purchased suction machines for at home. See if the doc will write a scipt for it, then the insurance company might pay. He's suffering from mucositus which most of us did.
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: May 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | thnks for replyin Gary,
well the thing is because of the secretions hes having high heart rate and also the resp rate is above 30.
Today doc has started with a new injection which shld dry the secretion up but might cause the heartrate to go up so they will just try today keeping inj dilzem handy.
hoping for the best now !
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
| | | | | 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 | This period will pass. Mine ONLY lasted about 4 weeks and it ended just about as fast as it started. There are many phases he will go through during his long recovery so encourage him to ask as many questions as he has. We have been where he's going.
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 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | ^^^ thanks alot David, we are already into 4th week(after radiation) and tomorrow tracheostomy will be done so as to ease the suction process, also my dad is not able to speak cause of the radiation , am just hoping now tat this tracheostomy helps him heal faster and avoid any inhospital infections as hes been in hospital for 22 days now(the next day after radiation he was admitted and till date hes in hspital) and already has got one infection which is being dealt with.
Me and my mom have alrady gone thru alot and now this, my sis whos in Albany,NY is also gonna fly back this weekend as being in hospial is really taking its toll on me n mom.
Has anybody here got tracheostomy done for secretions ? do let me know
Thanks all !
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
| | | | | 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 | I haven't heard of anyone hear having that done post Tx for the thick saliva but maybe someone will post different. Most of us also lost their voice at some point at the end of Tx but I was only able not to talk for a couple of days. My wife tells me she really misses those days. lol What type of radiation did he receive?
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 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | ^^^ the Saliva is so thick and ropy that hes not able to spit it nor swalow it in , it just stays there in his throat, and longer it stays the more his resp rate becomes high, as hes having tachycardia due to very low TSH(which is currectly being managed by a anti-b).
He went thru 7 weeks of radiation of 70Gy in 35# from 10/03/08 to 11/06/08
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
| | | | | 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 | Wow that is thick. Mine was not that bad. I know others have rented a machine that sucks the saliva from the throat. I wonder if they are available in India.
I meant what form of radiation. Most here now receive IMRT which stands for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. It is less damaging than it's predecessor, RT.
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 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | Yeah, we do get suction machines here also i can rent tat, i also have nebulizer machine at home.
doc says after the tracheostomy it wld b very easy to suck the secretion out... lets see ... but first am hoping his respiratory rate comes down after tracheostomy .
About Radiation, well my dad recieved Radical External beam radiotherapy using 6MV photons, am not sure whether thats IMRT.
Thanks again !
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | If my count is right, I'm into my 9th weeks and the mucous is worse now than it was earlier. You can't cough it up or even swallow it. LOL The body sure does weird things .
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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