Just over two weeks left! Starting Wednesday of this week and through the rest of radiation treatment, I'm getting booster radiation treatments -- less volume, 7 IMRT fields instead of the previous 9 fields.
I lost 3 pounds this week, but considering I put on 10 pounds before radiation started, the nurses are happy, and I'm happy that I can continue to eat through my mouth instead of my feeding tube, although everything still taste like cardboard.
My nurses and radiation oncologist are pleasantly surprised that my radiation burns are minimal, primary on the front of my neck. I hope, through the next two weeks, it stays that way, and I can also continue to eat by mouth.
I am hoping my medical oncologist will allow me to remove my feeding tube right after the end of treatment and that she will allow me to return to work soon after that assuming my energy level returns to normal. I have heard for some, it takes a couple of weeks or more.
Monday and Tuesdays continue to be my hardest days of the week as I sleep most of the day and night. Fridays, due to the steroid pills they give me before chemo, I have the most energy, usually not falling asleep until 2 or 3 am. My blood count is still below normal due to the weekly chemo infusions. I wonder how long it takes for the counts to return to normal after the end of chemo.
It is always exciting to see all the people cheer at the hospital when patients are done with treatment. The sad part is seeing new people come in, knowing the fear they have because you have been there, and knowing the journey they have ahead.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
23 down, 16 to go
Just over three weeks of radiation left and three more rounds of chemo. I'm so excited! I'm still able to eat through my mouth, which my nurses are pleasantly surprised.
I still have this fluid in my right middle ear, which makes it hard for me to hear, but my oncologist keeps telling me not to worry about it for now. This week, I've developed a mild ringing in the ear also. I hope that's also temporary. I'm fearful that some of my hearing might be gone at the end of all this. We will see or, as in this case, not hear. My jokes are so stupid! Haha!
I still have this fluid in my right middle ear, which makes it hard for me to hear, but my oncologist keeps telling me not to worry about it for now. This week, I've developed a mild ringing in the ear also. I hope that's also temporary. I'm fearful that some of my hearing might be gone at the end of all this. We will see or, as in this case, not hear. My jokes are so stupid! Haha!
Friday, January 9, 2009
13 down, 26 to go
13 IMRT radiation sessions down, 26 more to go. Yes! No new side effects to report. I've already mentioned how much not being able to taste things has changed my feeling about the whole eating process. I'm so jealous when I watch these TV shows on the travel channel and the food network, and these guys are eating everything. The food looks so good. Thank goodness there is no smell-a-vision feature on televisions yet. If so, my television would have my teeth marks or at least saliva all over it, the little bit of saliva that I have left.
Today's chemo infusion was the quickest on record for me. In and out in one hour! I met an older gentleman in the infusion center today. We spent almost the whole time talking about Macs since I noticed he was carrying an Apple bag. He mentioned he still uses an Apple laptop that's 8 years old. Dude seriously needs an upgrade. We had identical first generation iPhones. Cool.
I received my feedings for my feeding tube this week. They shipped me six cases of NUTREN® 2.0. These little cans pack 500 calories and are vanilla flavored, which doesn't really matter since through the tube or through my mouth, I cannot taste it. I have yet to try them since I'm still trying to eat everything through my mouth to keep those muscles working.
For my daily amifostine shots that I receive before my radiation treatments, I've asked the nurses to use a bigger needle and to use my thighs as the injection site; definitely less burning sensation than my arms and the larger needle makes the shot go much quicker.
Have a great weekend!
Today's chemo infusion was the quickest on record for me. In and out in one hour! I met an older gentleman in the infusion center today. We spent almost the whole time talking about Macs since I noticed he was carrying an Apple bag. He mentioned he still uses an Apple laptop that's 8 years old. Dude seriously needs an upgrade. We had identical first generation iPhones. Cool.
I received my feedings for my feeding tube this week. They shipped me six cases of NUTREN® 2.0. These little cans pack 500 calories and are vanilla flavored, which doesn't really matter since through the tube or through my mouth, I cannot taste it. I have yet to try them since I'm still trying to eat everything through my mouth to keep those muscles working.
For my daily amifostine shots that I receive before my radiation treatments, I've asked the nurses to use a bigger needle and to use my thighs as the injection site; definitely less burning sensation than my arms and the larger needle makes the shot go much quicker.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, January 2, 2009
8 down, 31 to go
Two weeks of radiation done, 6 more weeks to go. I cannot wait.
This week, I have developed a stuffiness in my right ear, making it hard to hear. What did you say? Tilting my head from side-to-side seems to make fluid in my ear move around, alleviating the discomfort. I'll ask my radiation oncologist on Monday during our weekly meeting if this is something that I should be worried about or if it's just the tumor responding, hopefully shrinking and dying a slow death.
I've lost some of my saliva and my sense of taste for all things and everything salty. It sucks! Everything taste like, well, nothing! Did I mention it sucks? I can still taste some sweet and sour items, but that probably won't last for long. I've promised Bee and Vance when my taste is back after treatment, we are hitting all my favorite restaurants in town. I cannot wait. Did I say anything about how much this sucks? Sorry, chemo brain. That sucks too!
I've developed some granulation tissue around my feeding tube site. It looks nasty, is a bit bloody, but the GI doctor said it's pretty normal and not to worry too much. Wonderful and often stinky! Just one more thing to worry about. And I'm not even using the tube yet, although I've ordered the feedings, which should be here next week.
Before each radiation treatment, I get amifostine shots. Man, do those shots burn. And the shots are HUGE! The shot is given submucosally, and the injection site has to be different each day. I have been avoiding the stomach area given how much the shots burn, choosing my thighs and triceps instead. I really hope these shots work and save my saliva. I don't want dry mouth for the rest of my life.
My good friend and dentist Tommy was kind enough to make fluoride trays for my teeth, which I use for five to ten minutes each night. Hopefully my saliva returns (thank you amifostine) and I can avoid having to use the trays for the rest of my life. Looking for a great dentist in the Atlanta area, give Dr. Ma's office a call and tell them Mark sent you.
Happy new year!
This week, I have developed a stuffiness in my right ear, making it hard to hear. What did you say? Tilting my head from side-to-side seems to make fluid in my ear move around, alleviating the discomfort. I'll ask my radiation oncologist on Monday during our weekly meeting if this is something that I should be worried about or if it's just the tumor responding, hopefully shrinking and dying a slow death.
I've lost some of my saliva and my sense of taste for all things and everything salty. It sucks! Everything taste like, well, nothing! Did I mention it sucks? I can still taste some sweet and sour items, but that probably won't last for long. I've promised Bee and Vance when my taste is back after treatment, we are hitting all my favorite restaurants in town. I cannot wait. Did I say anything about how much this sucks? Sorry, chemo brain. That sucks too!
I've developed some granulation tissue around my feeding tube site. It looks nasty, is a bit bloody, but the GI doctor said it's pretty normal and not to worry too much. Wonderful and often stinky! Just one more thing to worry about. And I'm not even using the tube yet, although I've ordered the feedings, which should be here next week.
Before each radiation treatment, I get amifostine shots. Man, do those shots burn. And the shots are HUGE! The shot is given submucosally, and the injection site has to be different each day. I have been avoiding the stomach area given how much the shots burn, choosing my thighs and triceps instead. I really hope these shots work and save my saliva. I don't want dry mouth for the rest of my life.
My good friend and dentist Tommy was kind enough to make fluoride trays for my teeth, which I use for five to ten minutes each night. Hopefully my saliva returns (thank you amifostine) and I can avoid having to use the trays for the rest of my life. Looking for a great dentist in the Atlanta area, give Dr. Ma's office a call and tell them Mark sent you.
Happy new year!
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