CancerCompass message board discussion started by rick51 on 2/17/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21057,0.htm Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ At the point where I had ten radiation treatments left I was told I needed to do a new simulation called a "boost" for SCC of the left tonsil. The explanation is, after 24 treatments they don't need such a wide beam, that they can now narrow the bean to be more direct onto the tumor. Sort of like a garden hose sprayer. The sprayer was wide open covering a lot of area, then they twist the nozzle and get a stronger narrower beam. Same dosage just more focused.-Is this normal?-Do the side effects change?Thanks,Rick rick51 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello, My husband had the same thing at the same point in his rad treatments, and the explination was the same, too. They called it a "boost".How are you doing? You're almost done, huh? :) Julie21 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks for the reply. How were the side effects after the boost? Did they get better, same, worse?I only have 6 more raditiation treatments including today. Then a month off. I live in Las Vegas and am being treated here. But was diagnosed at MD Anderson in Houston. After the month off, I go back to MD Anderson for my follow-up check up to make sure the cancer is gone. What a long month that will be.I have gained a ton of respect for suffers and caregivers of this awful disease.Rick rick51 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT They did the same for me, but I dont remember them calling it anything in particular. The Rad oncologist just said they were modifying the treatment because of the shrinkage of the tumor, and they needed to "fine tune". Like you, I got a new simulation, and at about the same time. It was explained that they were doing this to minimize damage to healthy tissue and maximize the effect on my cancer ( SCC, stage 4a, left tonsil).So, yeah, I guess it's normal, but if there were any side effects, I would guess that it just somewhat reduced the side effects of the radiation treatments.Best wishes,Mike micromisterphone Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks Mike.I guess it is standard operating procedure. How are you doing w/ your cancer? R rick51 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT His voice was gone by the end of the treatment, but back about a week later.  His buring was really bad on the back of his neck and on his neck - but that had to do with an allergic rxn to the amophostine shots not the boost.  On one hand the last week and week after were really hard, but on the other, easy b/c the rad was coming to an end so the light at the end of the road was bright and we could see the treatments stopping.The couple weeks after treatment were tough b/c your body goes into major recovery, rapair mode and my hubbie was super tired and had a ton of phlem, which was choking to him. He also could not really swallow for a week after treatment ended but then was able to right away again. 4 wks after treatments ended he was eatting again, two mo after his treatments ended he was traveling and today, almost a yr later, you would never know he'd been through cancer. He works out daily, has a super busy life - lots of commitments and looks better, physically.  His only real side effect is dryness of the mouth when he sleeps. His recovery was amazing.  Sometimes I think I am way more involved in the cancer thing than he is. It's my way of dealing. He didn't research his disease and spends no time online, which is a good thing b/c less info for him is more! Julie21 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks. I've noticed that the back of my neck is really sore as well. I've done fine w/ the treatments until now. Only 6 to go, but I think doing this boost is creating a new set of side effects. Looks like canker sores in my mouth, and my left tonsil area really hurts like strep throat. But as you said, the light at the end of the tunnel can be seen from here. I'm anxious to get it over with. In some ways I wish I could be more like your husband and just have my wife learn all the stuff. But I have to know every little detail. It's just me. rick51 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I've been reading your messages for a while and see so many similarities between us.  I am exactly 2 years from being diagnosedw/ Left Tonsil SCC and a left lymph node disection.  35 Radiation treatments and Erbitux chemo 1 x week. I also had a peg tube inserted after the 4th week of treatment as food was almost impossible to get down and I'm small to begin with, 5' and 100 lbs right now.  I was 120 and needed nutrition some way.  I remember in the 4th or 5th week, being so, so sick, throwing up, hurting that I remember telling my husband a couple of times to just please let me die.  It was very horrible for me and the treatment were more than I could handle.  My neck suffered severe redness and burn like blisters.  But I eventually got over it.  I still have stiffness, soreness in the neck area at times.  It's part of the disease.  I am here, doing what I can with what I can and cherish every moment of joy I can find. today I am happy, extatic that I am here.  I don't think I've ever heard about the Boost thing, but the major difficulty is the severe dry mouth, dry throat and the mucous.  I'm taking 1200 mg of Musinex in the am and pm and it has helped me 95%. I read these stories and my heart melts.  Every thing will be fine and God Bless!!  Chin Up! Love U HugsPatricia  pcn17 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Patricia,God Bless you for hanging in there and fighting back hard. Sounds like you are doing good now and I'm proud of you. In fact I am proud of everyone I read on these posts. People slam America and Americans these days. But we are the best, toughest, most caring people in the world. Look what we do for complete strangers on boards like this. Amazing.My time through this nightmare has been made a lot easier becuase of you people. God bless you all.Rick rick51 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Rick:I've been swept up in the caregiving role and negligent of my favorite virtual friends.  I just thought of you today and how close you are to the end.  I'm so impressed by your attitude and willingness to be informed.  I'm in the same situation as Julie, my husband leaves all the knowledge to me.  He just wants to trudge thru to the light at the end.  He is on treatment number ten now for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, stage four.  They've just informed him that they will soon be "coning down" the radiation beam.  They described this process as exactly the way you describe Boost.  So, it must be a common method with IMRT.  You'll have to let me know what you think.  Christopher's nurses say he should get a little relief with this for his remaining treatments.Hang in there buddy.....the finish line is within sight!Kara   Mediator Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Kara,I'm in no way an expert. But from my experience. After they started the boost or resimulation or whatever it is called. What I did notice in time was the redness outside on the face shrunk overall because they were now focusing on a smaller area. But inside the mouth, I actully think I got worse (not much and not bad) just a bit worse. Because you are still receiving the same dosage, it is just more concentrated. So I got a few more sores right around the tonsil area and it got a bit harder to swallow. Nothing unbearable.I looked at it as a garden hose with a nozzle on the end of it. Originally it was turned to a big spray pattern to water a big area. But then the boost was like twisting the nozzle to a hard narrow spray for like washing down the driveway. Same amount of water through the hose both ways, just directed differently.-BlessingsRick rick51 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Rick, thanks for asking....At 4 months out of treatment, I'm doing well. Got some saliva and about 30-40 % of my taste back. I had a CT scan done last week and see my oncologist and ENT this week for results. So far they've been pleased enough that they waved off the planned neck dissection.I hope things go as well for you (and evryone else here). The 2 or 3 weeks following the end of your treatment are the worst, after that things improve markedly.I wish I had found this board earlier, theres a lot of info here I wish I had earlier. But, hopefully, I'll be here for a long time to help others following me on this road like some others have helped me.Best of luck with your treatments, we'll all be watching and praying for your successful completion.Mike  micromisterphone Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Ditto, Kara & Julie!  My husband just wants to get through it. He researched heavily as soon as he was diagnosed, and once he was satisfied that his treatment was 'right on' and he had tremendous confidence in his team at Huntsman Cancer Institute, he just does what he's advised to do and is kind of just waiting it out.  He has a very positive attitude, but I am so grateful that Rick & all of you post here and everyone is so very supportive and doing so well at each step along the way.  Thank you so much. G. gulfgirl Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mike, such good news for you! Congrats. Thanks for posting. Gwen gulfgirl Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT