Today was my simulation. I will start concurrent Chemo/radiation on Tuesday the 26th. Cisplatin 3X at 21 day intervals. IMRT 33 days. I was diagnosed back on the 6th, I am anxious to get started.

Thanks for all of the advice given, looking forward to hearing more.

Bill

Hoping you go thru treatments quickly, painlessly and easily. Its a difficult road towards the end. Just keep eating minimum 200-300 calories. If it gets to a point where you cant eat, then use the peg tube. Take in minimum 48 oz water daily and swallow as much as you can by mouth.

Try to stay ahead of any nasuea you may encounter. Make good use of the peg tube by taking meds and getting extra fluids.
If you are able to eat by mouth now is the time to cram in all your favorite foods. Enjoy bread, chips, steak, mexican food, I could go on and on, just eat it now. It could be a while once you start treatments before your taste gets back to near normal again.

Best of luck with treatments. Please keep posting any questions or updates you may have as you go thru this.

I think that was a typo, you meant 2000 to 3000 calories per day right?

Bill

It is good to get started with the treatment. Although it is rough it will be over before you know it.

You have read the posts, the advice re food (2000-3000 calories), water thrush and so on is good.
Christine is right. Go eat, now is the time. Especially steaks, good crusty bread, chips etc!

Markus

Yeah! Pack in that food right now while you can and it all tastes good, and the best tasting stuf usually has the most calories! Pay no attention to what kind of food it is because shortly you will be on the Radiation Weight-Loss Program!

Good luck with the radiation crew -- I went back for a visit after I had recovered from the effects and they were all glad to see me -- They said it is sometimes discouraging for them to take relatively cheerful people and gradually turn them into weak, passive people -- They like it when someone healthy again returns for a visit.

Bill,

I would ask about weekly Cisplatin treatments vs the Big 3. In the last year or so I have seen many here say they got the weekly and didn't have the complications I did. Of course I'm assuming it's just as effective getting weekly vs every 3 weeks but I would ask if I were you.

The weekly course SEEMS to make more sense. Depending on excretion and metabolism you have a higher sustained concentration of the drug even though the dose is typically 1/3 of that of the 3 time schedule. The latter has a higher peak concentration ..... and more side effects. It depends what is more effective sustained or peak drug level.

Scanning the web I did not find a direct comparison. There is some info for other type of cancers, some of it quite old.

Brian any info you are aware of? I would be good to get a definite answer on this if possible.

Markus

Thanks to all, I will ask about weekly vice the 21 day interval.

I have a new favorite eating place; Ted's Montana Grill (even if he's married to Hanoi Jane). Bison meatloaf = g o o d.

I never thought I'd hear a military Dr. tell me I could not afford to lose weight. I am 6'0" and packing 238 pounds. When the going gets tough the fat get skinny and the skinny perish, I am a survivor.

Bought a new blender yesterday.....

(psst... Bill, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda divorced in 2001!)

Wow, huge typo!!! Thanks for catching that Brian. It should read 2000-3000 calories per day.
Sorry


Bill, glad you have a blender, you will need it down the road. Eat like crazy now so you wont feel like you are missing out so much later. Ive lost 65 pounds and kept it off for almost a year now. Bulk up cuz it will come off even if you try to prevent it.