CancerCompass message board discussion started by victor53 on 4/26/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23453,0.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ told 2 weeks ago stage 4 tonsil cancer so im reading everything i can Ive read glutimine helps should i start taking it now?.Is there something i can do to my neck skin now?Im taking a vitamin drink called Relivthere is so much info about what to try after and during treatment .But not much about before.Thank you all Victor  victor53 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Victor, Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I am 6 months out of treatment for the same thing (tonsillar cancer, stage 4a) and doing quite well, thank you.The best thing you can do for yourself is to get youreself in as good physical condition as you can, gain some weight, because your going to lose some during treatment. Spend some time here going back through the posts about side effects and what works for them. There is a wealth of information here that you wont get from your doctors.Set up your support people ( friends, family, significant other) so they know what's going on. I found that the vast majority of my friends were willing to help in any way they could, from offering rides to the hospital to shovelling my driveway to offering cash or groceries. Stay hooked up here, we can offer you answers when you need them and a friendly ear when you need that too.Tonsillar cancer is very beatable,Best wishes, Mike micromisterphone Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Victor, I'm a big believer in vitamins, but before my husband started radiation the doctor told him not to take vitamins because they make the cells more resistant to the radiation. You might want to check with your doctor about the vitamins. Mike is right about gaining weight. My husband put on about 15 pounds before he started treatments. He has lost about 18 pounds so far and he has one week left of radiation and chemo. He will probably lose 3 or 4 more pounds because the chemo makes him sweat so much that he dehydrates. Good luck to you, Carol capp519 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Victor,Glad to see you are being proactive. In addition to all the good advice I've read. I started the L-Glutamine before hand. I bought a cool mist humidifier and ran in all the time in my room. Your throat gets really dry and I'm in Las Vegas (dry environment anyway). I don't think you need to worry about your skin yet, but just have all the stuff you need when it is time. I also bought a camelback hiking drink bag and hung it on my headboard so all I had to do was reach over for the hose for a drink MANY times a night. Ohh, and I did Dahn Yoga one on one instruction all the way through and continue today. I really think it helped.It's a tough fight, but one that so many of us have been through and I can tell by you being so proactive you'll make it through. Just remember, no matter how bad it feels at times, there is light. I am two months out, back to playing golf, bowling, doing yoga and doing great. I feel better today than I have in years. Both physically and mentally.Good luck and God bless.Keep the faith and be strong.Rick rick51 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT The survivors and caregivers on this board will be your greatest resource.I will defer to them on this one as they may have different opinions on this:I have been doing my own research on and offline about candida infections (thrush/mucositis fall within but you should read up.)  I'm beginning to see a pattern with my husband in this area.  If I had to do it all over again, in addition to the glutamine powder, I would have my hubby also take probiotics and eat a lot of yogurt.  Get cough syrup, warm AND cool mist humidifiers and find someone who can apply acupressure when you get hiccups.  Yes, you read that right.  Got the tip on this message board and it works every time my husband has cisplatin.  So cool and no need for thorazine.Hang on buddy.   Mediator Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT     Hi Victor53 -  My hubbie's 1 yr out - stage 3b cancer of pyriform sinus w/ lymph node. We did most of the things posted to prepare for his treatment - In addition:Dental work - Had all of his metal fillings removed and replaced with porcelain fillingsHe got a PEG tubeMet with a nutritionist to plan in advance of treatment how he was going to stay as health as possibleHe gained 10 pds before his treatments started on purposeHe got a prescription for anti-anxiety medication (ativan) - before cancer he only took medication for cholesterol - nothing else.  My  hubbie took L-glutamine all the way through his treatments,  2 induction chemo rounds, radiation and chemo. It's an amino acid and it doesn't interfere with treatment.  If you ever want to talk with him, he'd talk with you.Best of luck, Julie Julie21 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Pack on the pounds, get a PEG tube just in case, check into some guided imagery CD's. Also get any book or CD by Bernie Seigel. Girlcat36 Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT