chrism's Cancer Blog
March 12, 2010
So today I completed my 25th radiation treatment – WOW! I now have just 2 weeks left to go (10 rads and 1 chemo). This week was again fairly uneventful. Still have daily nausea and this week I began taking the liquid Vicodin for pain. My neck is getting pretty burnt but the Calendula ointment keeps it manageable.
The great news is that the 2 remaining tumors in my neck are now completely gone – YAY! I really don’t want to have to go through another surgery after the treatments are over.
More good news – I actually gained a 1/4 lb last week so my weight is good – Thank goodness for the PEG tube. I’m still able to eat some things like my good ol’ instant oatmeal and Cream of Wheat by mouth, but depend on the PEG for most of my nutrition/weight maintenance.
My next chemo is Monday 3/22, which is also the last week of treatment, so I’m anticipating a rough week for my final week. BUT-next week there’s no chemo so hopefully, it will go fast with a minimum amount of drama (I sooo NOT a drama queen, normally :) I am really exhausted most days but am in a good place, mentally and spiritually.
I can’t thank all of you enough for your continued comments and support – they really get me through the dark patches.
HUGS always- ChrisThat’s great that you only have 2 more weeks left. I hope it flies by for you!
XOXOLisa
Posted on doesn’t it feel good to be heading into the last week of chemo? I finished my last chemo 9 days ago and it’s taking a little longer than i expected to start getting relief from the side effects. I am so happy that the tumors in your neck are completely gone! That’s absolutely wonderful news!
Only 2 more weeks! That’s great Chris! It sounds like you’re doing well. Still eating some things by mouth is great…much better than I did! My neck was pretty burned too and they prescribed Silvadene cream and told me to go to the drug store and buy Domeboro soaks for it. My sister was here then and twice a day she would soak my neck with the Domeboro and then apply the Silvadene. The Domeboro helped dry up the dead skin and she would so gently peel it all away. My neck was healed a week after my last treatment! I’m so glad to hear those tumors are gone Chris! YAY! You hang in there Gal! You’ve got a great attitude and that’s half the battle! Sending you good thoughts and prayers!
Hugs,
Trice :-)
Posted on Hey Chris,
You’re almost to the top of that mountain. I don’t think I reached the top until about four weeks out of treatment. I’m now six weeks out of chemo and radiation and can truly say I am feeling better every day. It’s amazing how well I have progressed in the last two weeks, physically, emotionally and spiritualy. The first two or three weeks out of treatment seemed like the worst for me. I felt very weak and fatigued, and suffered some major depression. I posted a blog about that titled “Change Focus to Help Manage Depression.” In that I wrote about what I found that helped me. My supporters on the blog keep telling me it is going to get better and they are right. Just gotta hang in there, keep the attitude you seem to have and don’t lost faith.
On your last chemo date, March 22, I have a date with a doctor to remove my PEG tube and I am so looking forward to saying goodbye to my little friend.
Peace, hope and blessings to you Chris,
Greg
Posted on March 6, 2010
As you might guess from the title of this post, I am a HUGE Bon Jovi fan. While I was laying on the rad table, just finishing getting my 17th rad tx, Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin on a Prayer’ came on the radio and boy did those words mean a lot! “Oh-oh, livin’ on a prayer – take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear!”
So week #4 is history, 3 weeks left to go. I had my 2nd round of chemo on Monday. My white blood cell count was a little low but not enough to not go ahead with the 2nd infusion of Cisplatin. I was OK until around Wednesday through today. Today is Saturday and I have never been this weak and exhausted in my life! It was a major effort to get up, wash, and get dressed to go get my rad tx’s. Feels like all I’ve been doing for 3 days is sleeping.
All food by mouth now makes me gag so I’m receiving my meals through the PEG tube(EnsurePlus). Despite how crappy I feel right now, I am so happy that I am past the 1/2 way point in the tx’s and know there is light at the end of the road! 15 more rads and 1 chemo left to go – woo hoo!
Thanks for your continued prayers,
HUGS-Chris
Living on a Prayer - We're Halfway There!, 
5 comments)
Chris,
Congrats on your milestone event! The treatments will fly by from here on out. I love Bon Jovi too! “You give cancer a bad name – bad name”
Hugs
Anna
Posted on Hi Chris,
Yay! You are almost finished. You are a trooper. What a coincidence Bon Jovi Living on A Prayer…Great Song! Im routing for you Chris. Everything will be fine. You take care.
Love,
Elena Cuomo : )
Posted on Hey there Chris,
Some of us have already been where you currently are in treatments and can relate to what you are going through. We know it’s not easy…far from it. But we also know that faith and perseverance will get you through this.
I am now five weeks out of chemo and radiation treatments for tonsil cancer and I can honestly say that I am feeling better every day. How many people can say that? You’ll be saying that too very soon. I know it’s much easier said than done but hang in there and stay strong. Your best days are ahead of you.
Peace, hope and love to you,
Greg
Congratulations! I take cisplatin too and Saturdays seem to be the hardest and Sundays too, except it seems that it “breaks” sometime Sunday night and I clearly start to feel a little more human sometime Sunday night. We can do this . . . one weekend at a time until we beat it. my doctor gave me a steroid to take Fri Sat and Sunday and it did help with the fatigue on the weekend. I’m so happy you are closing in on the end of the race. We are pulling for ya.
Posted on Hello Chris. I read you blog with some interest of course. I am heading down the road you have traveled already. I just had the surgery to remove the tonsil “lump” and am waiting for the pathology report. I am glad to read about everybodies steps to be this monster. It all shows that we are survivors. No matter what we will survive. Isn’t there a song out there about that. I think I will have to look that one up and use it. Sounds like it might be a Styx song. Telling my age I guess. Thanks for your comments and remember even the small successes make us stronger survivors.
Bill
Posted on 
Thanks for your support - 
