Wendy,

When it rains, it pours.... that is for sure.

When I was having the radiotherapy- 5 days per week and chemo every wednesday, they would do a blood test every Tuesday, the day before chemo to make sure that everything is ok to proceed with the chemo. They did that the day day before every chemo session.

Steve will also be fitted for a mask that he will have to wear every day while he is having the radiotherapy treatments, it can be pretty spooky. I had no warning of this beforehand so it scared the crap out of me. There have been a number of posts here about it so it would be worth reading up on that also, another thing to add to your list of things to do..

Karen

Thanks Karen, he has been fitted for his mask already and handled it really well. Luckily for him he's never been a person that can't tolerate stuff like that so it helps. He doesn't like the blood tests though. Will go through everything else without an ounce of whinging but when it comes to that needle he looks away and nearly squeezes my hand off. The masks are funny looking things aren't they. We were trying to come up with a super hero name for him for when he was wearing it but so far no luck. Just trying to keep our sense of humour really. But thanks again for your advise. It must have been very scary for you with the mask, with no forewarning. I know I would hate it. I hated even watching him being fitted for it.

Wendy,

Maybe you should look into getting a port. I think it should be standard for this Tx anyway.

Hi David, what is a port and how does it work. I have no idea. But I do know what a peg is although am yet to learn how it works but at least I'm a quarter of the way there.

The port is a "devise" which is a temporarily permanent procedure that involves the insertion of a catheter into a blood vessel to provide a painless way of drawing blood or delivering drugs and nutrients into a patient's bloodstream over a period of weeks, months or even years. It is usually hidden under the skin so you can takes showers etc without worrying but anytime they need to draw blood or give IV fluids they will always have an entry place. I became very dehydrated and was constantly having to have fluids and blood work and each time it would/could take them forever to find a vein. Many times they had to call "THE VEIN EXPERT" to hook me up and that was usually after several Rookie attempts failed. Not fun when you feel like crap to begin with.

Wendy,

Can't say enough about the port and what a godsend it was for my Bill who is slightly needle-phobic. His was placed in the clavicle area of his upper chest at the same time his Peg tube was placed. Both were so helpful thru treatments.

Blood tests..IV fluids and of course, chemo was so much easier with the port and did not cause the pain that accessing a vein does. Bill just recently had his port removed under twilight anesthesia...a piece of cake.

Best of luck as you start this journey...keep checking in here for your sanity's sake...we all have been thru it.

Deb