Scared!! Diagonosed with throat cancer

Hi Everyone!!! I am sorry that I only seem to get online once a week. Had a cousin come stay with me last week and she was definitely a much need mood elevator. Got down in the dumps yesterday at the start if my 3rd week of treatments. I am okay today though. I was missing my cousin and my husband has been sick so he has been downstairs while I have stayed upstairs. Treatments are going good. The chemo isn't bad at all for me, no side effects so far. Radiation is tougher for me. I have one sore in my mouth cause the radiation is bouncing off a filling I have. I am going to cover it with wax to help with that. I am still eating and drinking on my own. I do mouth exercises every day. Mucus is thicker but mucinex is helping with that. Taste buds are getting shot. I ordered fruit flavored spry sugar free gum per someone's suggestion. I am so over everything being mint flavored, lol. I miss going to the gym and hot yoga. I don't know enough yoga to do on my own. Money is tight so can't afford to buy the script and yoga video but oh well. Drinking lots of water, at least 5 16oz bottles a day. I should do 8 but that one is hard. I just wanted to give you all an update. Your support and suggestions have helped me so much and all if you mean so much to me. God bless

TY  for the update.  I'm scheduled to begin treatment on the 24th.  My mask is in 2 days now.  But, don't have the pic line, nor feeding tube yet.  oh wow, I have lots of fillings n crowns.   what kind of mouth exercises?  

Lord be with you. 

On Nov 11, 2014 4:14 PM hisprincesstoo wrote:

TY  for the update.  I'm scheduled to begin treatment on the 24th.  My mask is in 2 days now.  But, don't have the pic line, nor feeding tube yet.  oh wow, I have lots of fillings n crowns.   what kind of mouth exercises?  

Lord be with you. 

Hey! You are gonna do fine! The mouth exercises I do are just opening it as wide as I can 20 times 3 times a day then I move my jaw from side to side. I will be thinking and praying for you as you start your treatment. If I can do it you most certainly can. God bless

Hey Cheyenne -

I may be a bit late with this - my oncologist had sent me to the dentist in the hospital who made me a pair of mouth guards on the spot. Basically just filled a tray with some putty-like substance, had me bite down, and then let it harden.

I wore those to every radiation treatment session. I think they were originally supposed to be used for flouride treatments.

At one point after examining me, he also had me wet a piece of gauze and place it inside my mouth. It's been seven years and those days are a bit foggy.

Ask your radiation oncologist about the mouthguards. I tmay help.

Wishing you light side effects and a rapid recovery!

- Jeff

My husband said he went to his happy place.  Today was his first treatment and he said that it wasn't pleasant but he closed his eyes and thought about somewhere he wanted to be.  

I used to count the beeps - for me it was 7 x 10 seconds, so we really aren't radiated for as long as it can feel!

Hi everyone. I have made it through my fourth week, 16 treatments to go. It still takes me an ativan to get through radiation but it has gotten better. Had a reaction to chemo last week and it took me by suprise for sure. Still holding weight but have been on my feeding tube for about a week and a half. Had something weird happen.....my tumor (node) died from the inside out and the node on my neck swelled to an enormous size. I have been on 2 antibiotics for 10 days. It is not as swollen but now it will have to be removed by surgery. My ENT said the effects from radiation shouldn't get to much worse for me so I am hoping he is correct. I can still swallow and try to drink as much water as possible and the rest goes down the tube. I am frickin starving all the time though. So far I am hanging in there but the mucus is driving me crazy and making me gag quite a bit. I have 3 treatments this coming week because of Thanksgiving which I hope is filled with love and family and thanks for you all.

great to hear.  hey I got a question about your feeding tube being put in.  How long did that take to heal?  plus  the port?

Congrats CM,

You sound great here. Way to go. Actually interesting to read you are so hungry as I had little appetite by this time in the treatment. Again, good for you. I am sorry you have to have that surgery and I hope the antibiotics do the trick. Yes, the mucus thing is pretty annoying. Hope you have a great thanksgiving.

John

On Nov 11, 2014 9:36 PM ErthWlkr wrote:

Hey Cheyenne -

I may be a bit late with this - my oncologist had sent me to the dentist in the hospital who made me a pair of mouth guards on the spot. Basically just filled a tray with some putty-like substance, had me bite down, and then let it harden.

I wore those to every radiation treatment session. I think they were originally supposed to be used for flouride treatments.

At one point after examining me, he also had me wet a piece of gauze and place it inside my mouth. It's been seven years and those days are a bit foggy.

Ask your radiation oncologist about the mouthguards. I tmay help.

Wishing you light side effects and a rapid recovery!

- Jeff

Jeff - They had me wear mine during every radiation treatment to protect my teeth and I also use them for flouride treatment.  Not everyone on CC was told to use them - and a really good point. 

Diana