| | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |  Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I'm with you Ray. I burned a CD that I listened to everyday. It was all up tempo contemporary Christian and thumpin' Gospel. It really helped. Music is very important to get you through this.
Zanax was my friend too ;-)
Gary Allsebrook
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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: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | mighty, just use the vaporizor before you head in bro!
I never had issues in rx, I slept through it everytime.
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 | Thanks for all the encouragement, everybody. I'll ask about having my own music...or a David Sedaris tape...and it sounds like Ativan might be the way to go, at least at the beginning.
Chrissy
Stage 2 SCC upper right palate
Hemi-palatectomy and maxillectomy 5/28/09
Six teeth gone
IMRT x30 starts July 13. Completed 8/26/09
Carboplatin and Taxol x6 starting 7/14/09. Completed 8/25/09.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 | If only I HAD a vaporizer...
Chrissy
Stage 2 SCC upper right palate
Hemi-palatectomy and maxillectomy 5/28/09
Six teeth gone
IMRT x30 starts July 13. Completed 8/26/09
Carboplatin and Taxol x6 starting 7/14/09. Completed 8/25/09.
| | | | | 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 | They never showed me how to unbolt myself!!!
MM,
I stopped riding 1 month pre Tx because I was told by my RO I needed to gain as much weight as I could and obviously exercising defeats that goal. I did walk around the block a few times but that was really boring so I basically didn't exercise until I got back on my bike in my 4th month post and that was really tough mentally as well as physically.
Yes I also brought my own CD's because my rad tech liked country and that's all the CD's she had. Don't get me wrong I like all talented musical sources but after 3 days of country, I couldn't take that and the rad and the mask.
Funny story. My first day of rad they let my wife come into THE ROOM and when she saw them clamp me down she almost fainted and had to be helped out. She never again even ventured back from the waiting room.
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: 622 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 | Aahhh yes, the good ole MASK  Here's another vote for music, music Music! I found every 20 minute plus song I could (Iron Butterfly InAGaddaDaVida was in there). KC
18 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.
�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Chalk up another vote for music. I made my own CD during my 2nd bout of radiation, but in my first bout I sang hymns to myself. That was distracting enough because in addition to signing them, I was critiquing what a horrible singer I was. Before I knew it - time was over.
Is there any better sound in this world than the sound of the clips being undone? Sweet.
Keep your mind busy - whatever it takes.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | chris
they had no music available for my 2007 sessions, just the whirling and clanking of the IMRT and I was not only bolted (not snapped but real bolts) down but also restrained with straps on my ankles and wrists. contrast that to the CyberKnife this year where they let me bring in my own CD: (I did new age instrumentals almost meditative). Even though the treatments lasted an hour this time instead of 15 minutes, they were much more comfortable. No bolts, just snaps, No tie downs, just a chest strap. I opted for the Ativan and it was the right decision. I fell asleep during two treatments, it was so relaxing. Plus I did have them make a mouth opening in my mask this time around so my lips were not squeezed with those criss cross marks from the webbing. Yeah, I figure that by the time I am eligible for Medicare, they may start covering the Volcano vaporizer with any luck. Seriously, take the Ativan.
charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | Okay...What is the vaporizer?
7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer
8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35
11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 | Man, you guys who had straps and ropes and stuff...now that's restriction! Who knows, maybe that's coming my way, too...
Ray, the vaporizer is for (medical) marijuana, legal in some states but not most of ours... It's a non-smoke way to take it in. Interesting concept; I hear they're going to have one on the Island, along with pina coladas...
Gonna make my own CD -- you've all persuaded me that's the way to go. Of course, I'll have to get my son to burn it for me, since I'm technically challenged. Old fart at 46.
Chrissy
Stage 2 SCC upper right palate
Hemi-palatectomy and maxillectomy 5/28/09
Six teeth gone
IMRT x30 starts July 13. Completed 8/26/09
Carboplatin and Taxol x6 starting 7/14/09. Completed 8/25/09.
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