Related Experiences

I've just completed the first week of treatment for Stage3 SCC of tonsil, after neck dissection to remove a 1" tumor.  Treatment is chemo (d1, 17, 35) using cis-platinum, with IMRT for 35 days.  First few days went well, but on d4-6 I've been really out of energy, can't sleep, some nausea, barely able to hold my head up.  Medical oncologist ran his weekly blood tests today and found increased blood sugar level with decreased kidney activity.  He immediately put me on a 4hr IV of K+ electrolytes for each of the next three days.  The first IV helped a lot.  He also advised me that d8-11 after chemo was tough as the body is still fighting the chemo, it should get better.  But the radiation treatment will start to cause side effects next week or sooner.  Does this parallel any experiences on the board?  Thanks in advance.

 Pigdoc

I had the very same treatments for stage IV SCC w/unknown primary. No tumor surgery, of course; and I had the neck dissection after treatments. I couldn't tolerate the 3rd cisplatin, tho-too sick after the 2nd and by then you're far enough into radiation to have other side effects. I was told this wasn't unusual. I had a big problem with dehydration, too-but not with my electrolytes. There are so many side effects of this treatment! I felt fortunate not to have had some of the worst of the. I'm hoping the IMRT will allow me to get at least some salivary activity back someday-the totally dry mouth is hard to take. Your Dr's should be doing everything they are able to to help combat the side effects-mine sure were wonderful! Good luck to you as you continue thru the journey! Gayle 

I'm now thru 14 of 35 IMRT treatments.  After the doctor found reduced kidney function, he had me on 2-4hr IV's for 7 days.  This made me feel much better.  But my kidney function has not recovered, and the doc tells me there is permanent kidney damage (not severe), but he does not want me to have any more cys-platinum.  He is switching me to Erbitux, once weekly for the rest of the treatment.  He says it is less severe.  Also, the side effects from the radiation have set in.  I can no longer swallow food, so I'm full time on the feeding tube (Nutren 1.0 --> Nutren 1.5).  I can still sip water, but each swallow is a painful experience.  To be honest, with the progression of the painful side effects, I'm not optimistic about the rest of the treatment.  If it gets worse with each treatment, it will be pure hell.  Hopefully, there will be some things offered to alleviate the side effects.  Does this match previous experiences of any readers, thanks in advance.

Pigdoc 

Chemo can really knock one down. I know I was tired all the time and had a lot of side effects from the chemo that were unpleasent. I took percocet for this, tylenol did not work for me. If your dr has prescribed pain medicine for you there is no reason why you cant crush it up and put it down your feeding tube with water. This may help with some of your side effects. Check with your dr and see what he says.