Extreme Symptoms After Only First Week...

My father was recently diagnosed with early stage 2 squamous cell cancer when there was a tumor found on the back of his tongue/tonsil.  He was then told that it would be beneficial to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation in order to achieve the ultimate survival rate possible.  He is currently doing chemotherapy and radiation continously mon.-fri. week on and week off for 14 weeks.  However, after the first week of radiation and chemotherapy he has already experience tremendous pain in his throat while swallowing and thrush (an oral infection w/blisters).  It is rather scary that he has experienced such symptom so quickly.  The doctors said that his body must be sensitive to the treatment because this is early to be experiencing symptoms but chose to no let up on treatment.  I would appreciate anyone's comments and would be extremely thankful for any advice. Please and Thank you!!

On 8/1/2007 mars8686 wrote:

My father was recently diagnosed with early stage 2 squamous cell cancer when there was a tumor found on the back of his tongue/tonsil.  He was then told that it would be beneficial to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation in order to achieve the ultimate survival rate possible.  He is currently doing chemotherapy and radiation continously mon.-fri. week on and week off for 14 weeks.  However, after the first week of radiation and chemotherapy he has already experience tremendous pain in his throat while swallowing and thrush (an oral infection w/blisters).  It is rather scary that he has experienced such symptom so quickly.  The doctors said that his body must be sensitive to the treatment because this is early to be experiencing symptoms but chose to no let up on treatment.  I would appreciate anyone's comments and would be extremely thankful for any advice. Please and Thank you!!

I do not have advice, I am sorry to say, but find myself in a similar situation with my father.  He has base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma stage IV, and on Monday of this week began his seven weeks of radiation (M-F).  He also receives chemo every Tuesday.  So far so good.  Today will be day four.

Do I understand correctly that your father has as much chemo as he does radiation?  Does he have chemo every day that he has radiation?  And he will basically have seven weeks due to the week-on-week-off schedule?

What chemo drug is being used?

Does he get an injection before radiation treatments?  My father receives a shot of Ethyol prior to each radiation which is supposed to lessen the effects of radiation in the throat.

I wonder if what your father is experiencing is more due to the radiation, the chemo, or the combination of the two.  I am interested in staying in touch with you to see how your father does, and maybe, since we have similar situations, we can compare notes as the treatment of our fathers progresses.   

Blessings.

Maggie

On 8/1/2007 mars8686 wrote:

My father was recently diagnosed with early stage 2 squamous cell cancer when there was a tumor found on the back of his tongue/tonsil.  He was then told that it would be beneficial to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation in order to achieve the ultimate survival rate possible.  He is currently doing chemotherapy and radiation continously mon.-fri. week on and week off for 14 weeks.  However, after the first week of radiation and chemotherapy he has already experience tremendous pain in his throat while swallowing and thrush (an oral infection w/blisters).  It is rather scary that he has experienced such symptom so quickly.  The doctors said that his body must be sensitive to the treatment because this is early to be experiencing symptoms but chose to no let up on treatment.  I would appreciate anyone's comments and would be extremely thankful for any advice. Please and Thank you!!

I'm at the end of my 5th week, with three more to go.  I barely have any blistering, little discomfort and no real pain.  The worst thing is the sides of my tongue, like I bit it, but not too bad.  My throat is starting to swell closed, so Im starting to use the PEG, but just this week.  I get sisplatin for the chemo.  What's he getting?  It might be the chemo is too aggressive.

I apologize for not responding earlier, we have been running around like crazy today trying to get the problems resolved.  I really appreciate your responses Maggie and Adair, and yes Maggie we do need to stay in contact here. 

 What I found out... mostly his extreme pain was coming from thrush which the oncologist admitted to be his fault since they did not start him on a thrush medicine prior to starting his chemo & radiation.  Now that he is on the medicine it seems to be getting better and he is living on Ensure drinks. 

Maggie... he is getting an equal dose of chemo (FCU5) & radiation but no injections prior to radiation.

Finally we are back on a path here..