It's now Friday early evening and I've completed 5 of the 35 sessions of radiation. Unfortunately, I've been feeling a little nauseated most of the day and beginning to wonder if it's from the Chemo I got on Wednesday or just a combination of the radiation and chemo??? Anyway, it's not too awful bad, but I just have this upset feeling in my stomach and feel pretty tired.
The radiation has been going on as expected taking about 35-45 mins a session. Next week should go a lot quicker because they're not going to have to take CT scans each and every day and all I'll have to do is get the radiation which should only take 15-20 minutes.
My neck looks like it's a little sunburned but it's not bothering me yet and my throat still feels good. No other side effects as of yet except for this upset stomach thing I have going on right now.
That's about it for now. I'm gonna get some soup and hit the sack early tonight. Hopefully I'll feel a little bit better tomorrow.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
2nd and 3rd Sessions
Don't know if I'll continue to post after each and every session, I might just opt to post a couple times a week, but we'll see.
Had my second treatment yesterday afternoon and it went much smoother than the day before. The machine and table were working properly and the technicians said they had had no problems all day long with it. They explained that for the first week (5 sessions), they would be taking CT scans first, then hit me with the radiation right afterwards. Everything went smooth and I was in and out of the machine in about 35 minutes. I'm guessing that if they don't need take CT scans, the radiation portion is only going to take about 20 minutes.
After I was done with the treatment, I talked to the radiation therapists for a while about what I should be doing in regards to home care. They all reiterated the necessity to drink plenty of fluids and keep using the cream they prescribed for me on my neck. I was originally prescribed this cream called Biafine which is for use on radiation dermatitis, then yesterday, the radiation therapists talked to the doctor and they decided to have me use a new and improved product called Xclair. I had some problems finding it, but eventually found it at Walgreens. $70 a tube...thank God for Tricare...it only cost me $9.
I was also given a prescription for Salagen tablets. These are for the treatment of symptoms of dry mouth from salivary gland hypofunction caused by radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck. So far I haven't experienced any of that yet, but the doctors want me to go ahead and start taking them now.
3rd session today also went ok. They took more CT scans then followed up with the treatment. Seems that if everything is working as it should, I'm in and out of the Cancer Treatment Center in an hour. They called me earlier this morning to see if I could come in at 1115 vice 1145 so I went ahead and did that. Since I finished up just after 1200, I decided to hit Burger King for lunch before my Chemo treatment that was scheduled for 1pm. Marjie had to check-in to her new command today so the plan was for her to meet me at the Oncologist office for my Chemo treatment.
As I was leaving the Cancer Treatment Center I some how ended up in a conversation with a couple ladies who were also there for their radiation treatments. We talked for about a half hour and they want me to come to one of there "People Helping People" meetings next month. It's for Cancer survivors, In-treatment personnel and care givers. They also do some volunteer work around the center and the hospital. Anyway, I end up seeing these ladies everyday because their appointments are right after mine. I told them that I'd go to the next meeting and help out whenever I could.
Anyway, after a quick chicken sandwich at BK I headed over to the Oncologist to prepare for my first round of this type of chemo. Marjie met me over there and after an hour wait because they were so behind, I was escorted back to the old familiar leather recliners. The place was busting at the seems with patients today and every chair was taken up.
Sarah, my nurse came over and explained that they were going to give me an anti-nausea IV first like I had had when I was getting the chemotherapy earlier, then it would be followed up with the new chemo drug " Carboplatin". The side effects aren't supposed to be as bad as what I experienced the last time, but she did warn me about the possibility of getting nauseated and fatigued. I can deal with that as long as I don't get mouth sores, lose anymore hair or if it makes my food taste horrible.
Since the PICC line was removed, they inserted a catheter in my hand and that's how the chemo was administered.
Just like all the rest of the times I'd get chemo, it doesn't hurt and you feel ok while it's going in. It's been a couple hours since I got the treatment and I still feel fine. Time will tell. She said it usually takes a day or so before you feel any side effects and if I get any, they only last for a couple days. Heard lots more talk today about the cumulative effects of the radiation and chemo, so I'm sure it's going to be an uphill battle, but I'm taking it one day at a time.
That's it for now....More to follow:
Had my second treatment yesterday afternoon and it went much smoother than the day before. The machine and table were working properly and the technicians said they had had no problems all day long with it. They explained that for the first week (5 sessions), they would be taking CT scans first, then hit me with the radiation right afterwards. Everything went smooth and I was in and out of the machine in about 35 minutes. I'm guessing that if they don't need take CT scans, the radiation portion is only going to take about 20 minutes.
After I was done with the treatment, I talked to the radiation therapists for a while about what I should be doing in regards to home care. They all reiterated the necessity to drink plenty of fluids and keep using the cream they prescribed for me on my neck. I was originally prescribed this cream called Biafine which is for use on radiation dermatitis, then yesterday, the radiation therapists talked to the doctor and they decided to have me use a new and improved product called Xclair. I had some problems finding it, but eventually found it at Walgreens. $70 a tube...thank God for Tricare...it only cost me $9.
I was also given a prescription for Salagen tablets. These are for the treatment of symptoms of dry mouth from salivary gland hypofunction caused by radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck. So far I haven't experienced any of that yet, but the doctors want me to go ahead and start taking them now.
3rd session today also went ok. They took more CT scans then followed up with the treatment. Seems that if everything is working as it should, I'm in and out of the Cancer Treatment Center in an hour. They called me earlier this morning to see if I could come in at 1115 vice 1145 so I went ahead and did that. Since I finished up just after 1200, I decided to hit Burger King for lunch before my Chemo treatment that was scheduled for 1pm. Marjie had to check-in to her new command today so the plan was for her to meet me at the Oncologist office for my Chemo treatment.
As I was leaving the Cancer Treatment Center I some how ended up in a conversation with a couple ladies who were also there for their radiation treatments. We talked for about a half hour and they want me to come to one of there "People Helping People" meetings next month. It's for Cancer survivors, In-treatment personnel and care givers. They also do some volunteer work around the center and the hospital. Anyway, I end up seeing these ladies everyday because their appointments are right after mine. I told them that I'd go to the next meeting and help out whenever I could.
Anyway, after a quick chicken sandwich at BK I headed over to the Oncologist to prepare for my first round of this type of chemo. Marjie met me over there and after an hour wait because they were so behind, I was escorted back to the old familiar leather recliners. The place was busting at the seems with patients today and every chair was taken up.
Sarah, my nurse came over and explained that they were going to give me an anti-nausea IV first like I had had when I was getting the chemotherapy earlier, then it would be followed up with the new chemo drug " Carboplatin". The side effects aren't supposed to be as bad as what I experienced the last time, but she did warn me about the possibility of getting nauseated and fatigued. I can deal with that as long as I don't get mouth sores, lose anymore hair or if it makes my food taste horrible.
Since the PICC line was removed, they inserted a catheter in my hand and that's how the chemo was administered.
Just like all the rest of the times I'd get chemo, it doesn't hurt and you feel ok while it's going in. It's been a couple hours since I got the treatment and I still feel fine. Time will tell. She said it usually takes a day or so before you feel any side effects and if I get any, they only last for a couple days. Heard lots more talk today about the cumulative effects of the radiation and chemo, so I'm sure it's going to be an uphill battle, but I'm taking it one day at a time.
That's it for now....More to follow:
Monday, February 19, 2007
1st Day of Radiation
First day is now behind me. It was no worse than what I've experienced in the last few days of getting the films made and the mask fitted. Just like the doctor said, you feel absolutely nothing.
The radiation technicians were having some problems with the table and the machine. After I laid down on the table and got all strapped in, it took them about 30 minutes to get everything set up. Once they got things set just right, the radiation part only took about 20 minutes. The bummer was having to lay strapped down to the table for an hour. My head and neck were throbbing and I could hardly wait to get out of that contraption. All in all, it went well. Like I said, you feel nothing and according to the ladies who were administering the radiation, I shouldn't start feeling any of the effects till about the 10th session. So here we are, 1 down, 34 sessions to go.
Not much more to say about the radiation treatment...That's good I guess! I just need to remember to drink lots of water and keep the cream they prescribed me on my neck.
On another note, Marjie and I are in the process of painting the inside of the house. It's starting to look really good, but it sure is a whole lot of work.
That's really all for now.
Check back tomorrow for day 2 update.
The radiation technicians were having some problems with the table and the machine. After I laid down on the table and got all strapped in, it took them about 30 minutes to get everything set up. Once they got things set just right, the radiation part only took about 20 minutes. The bummer was having to lay strapped down to the table for an hour. My head and neck were throbbing and I could hardly wait to get out of that contraption. All in all, it went well. Like I said, you feel nothing and according to the ladies who were administering the radiation, I shouldn't start feeling any of the effects till about the 10th session. So here we are, 1 down, 34 sessions to go.
Not much more to say about the radiation treatment...That's good I guess! I just need to remember to drink lots of water and keep the cream they prescribed me on my neck.
On another note, Marjie and I are in the process of painting the inside of the house. It's starting to look really good, but it sure is a whole lot of work.
That's really all for now.
Check back tomorrow for day 2 update.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
