Finished with week 5 - on to Week 6

It's Marjie again, and since Dave hasn't updated this since Wednesday, an update is due. Overall Dave is doing well - thankfully we are done with Week 5. Wow 25 treatments done, 8 to go (YEAH!!!!!). Overall Dave is still looking good - pretty much maintaining his weight and going through the inevitable roller coaster of good moments and bad. I had to badger him to put the post in on Wednesday. Here is this week's photo:


We saw Dr. Amin (radiation oncologist) on Friday and he confirmed that Dave only had to do 33 sessions, so if there is no delays then we will be done with the radiation a week from Wednesday. He is impressed on how the treatment is going. Dave is actually doing really well with the treatment and we have been able to keep his side effects to a minimum. His side effects continue to be the very thick spit, and it has reached the point that it gags him as he is trying to get it out of his throat. He has had a few episodes of dry heaves as a result of the spit. We did mention about the medication for Dave's throat causing him to gag - and Dr. Amin took a look and okayed the fact that Dave wasn't taking the meds. Dave's routine of water and rinsing is sufficent to keep things in check.
Dave's neck is still looking very good - slight redness, which darkens if he goes outside. He has been very good about putting the XClair cream on twice a day. The area is not really sensitive to touch, although he is careful about the shirts he wears to ensure that nothing rubs against his neck excessively. So my husband is becoming a redneck. We have noticed little scabs along the top of his back and shoulders - thinking that it may be from the radiation table - and the doctor did look at them and was not concerned - just put aloe on them to help healing.
Dr. Amin also stated that Dave's weight was actually up 1/2 a pound from last week - so the we are on the right track with Dave's diet (3 ENSURE Plus, 2 glasses of JUVEN, and a daily walk). Actually we found that Walmart's generic (EQUATE) is just the same and about $1.50 cheaper per 6 pack. It comes in cans rather than plastic bottles, and we can recycle the cans and can't recycle the bottles in this area.
The final area is Dave's attitude and energy level. He is sleeping a lot more lately, more out of boredom, I think, rather than fatigue. He is tired of dealing with the symptoms. He is getting out though. He helped with the yard yesterday morning (edged the lawn) and then mowed the back yard(riding lawn mower). We have been going on a walk in the late evening as the sun goes down. We are also having a sprinkler system put in, and Friday they came out and dug the well for the system, Dave set up a spot to supervise it in the shade, then he proceeded to start watering the backyard with the sprinkler and had fun for the next couple of hours telling me to move the sprinkler every 30 minutes or so.
Overall things are going well - just ready for this to be all over. Thanks again for all the thoughts, comments, prayers, cards, emails, and support.

2 weeks/10 treatments left

It's been a while since I last posted anything in this blog and thankfully Marjie has kept it going for me. I've just been feeling so run down these past couple weeks and just haven't had the energy to do much of anything. Seems as if I only feel ok is when I'm sleeping. I wish there was some kind of magic pill I could take that would knock me out for 2 weeks at a time. It would be much easier to handle that way.
Today was my 23rd session of radiation and 5th chemo session. I have 10 more sessions to go and 2 more chemo sessions all ending on the 4th of April. My throat is so sore and tastes buds totally gone that the only way I'm getting any nourishment is through the feeding tube. Can't even remember the last time I ate anything. Basically, I have 3 cans of Equate (Walmart Generic), a day. Vanilla for breakfast, Strawberry for Lunch and Chocolate for Dinner. None of which I can taste unless I burp or something. The only thing going down my gullet is H2O and my 2 daily doses (Glasses) of Juven.
My energy level has significantly dropped and I spend most of my time laying on the couch watching TV. I know, I know it sounds pretty pathetic. I have to carry around this spit cup which I'm constantly hacking in and spitting up this thick mucus all day and night. I cough so hard and have been dry heaving so much lately that I'm now coughing up a little blood every once in a while. I'd have to say that the nausea, leg pains, loss of hair, sore throat, mouth sores, and everything else bad that I've experienced in the last 5 months...the worst is this thick mucus in my mouth and the fact that everything I've tried to eat tastes like poisen. Actually with my throat so sore right now, I don't think I could get anything down the ole gullet even if I wanted to.
The nurses mentioned to me this afternoon that I'm really impressing everyone at the Cancer Treatment Center because of the fact that in their opinion I'm doing so good with the treatment. The thing a lot of it has to do with my age, but they all say that I'm breezing right through this.
All I can focus on these days is the fact that there is light at the end of the tunnel and I'm getting there one day at a time.
Not too much more going on with me....just doing my time I guess...Thanks for all the prayers and support each and everyone of you are giving me and my family..we all appreciate it!

Done with Week 4 - On To Week 5

It's Marjie again - We are done with Week 4 (20 fractals done, and actually we either have 13 or 15 fractals to go) and I am so glad. We had a significant weather change on Friday - the temperatures dropped 20 degrees Thursday night between 8:30 and 9:30, and we woke up Friday to the temps in the 30's (Thursday's high was 86 degrees). With the low temps also came the gray and rain...and Dave's mood followed the trend of the weather - gray and gloomy. He is getting tired of the thick spit - which is getting to the point that he almost gags on it trying to clear his throat. The fact that food still taste's awful and he has no desire to experiment to find something passable. It's a chore just eating scrambled eggs. The new meds that Dr. Amin prescribed also make him nauseous. The bottom line is that he is just tired of this - and it is pretty much 100% mental attitude now. As the pictures below show his mood:
His neck is still doing well - just starting to get red, but no blisters or open sores. He has been very good about putting the cream on his neck. I just wish he was a diligent at taking his meds.
Saturday Dave remained in a somewhat gloomy mood, puttered around the garage for a little while, and then sat down and watch the NASCAR race. Took a dip in the Hot Tub before bed - hoping to relieve his spirits.

Here it is Sunday, and although he is up and about he is not in the mood to do much of anything - least of all update the Blog. He did however spend some time reading through his email - the comments on the blog, and visited the Tonsil Cancer Support Group pages. I'll get him outside and moving today. We picked up 4 trees on Friday - a birch, two dwarf peach, and a willow tree to plant in the back yard. We need to get it done before we get the sprinkler system in. Then I am on the search for 6 or so half whiskey barrels to start the garden up again, or I'll have to convince Dave to build a raised garden bed in the back yard. Either way - it is March and time to get the yard going.

Weight 159.5

Take care and keep the thoughts, prayers and comments coming - even though he isn't typing he is reading them. Thanks again for all the support - God Bless.