Radiation impacts

I've made it through 12 out of the planned 30 radiation treatments!! At the end of this week it will be halfway over. The radiation oncologist, Dr. Rine said they'll do another scan after 25 treatments and decide on how many more sessions based on the results. It would be nice if they said 25 was enough. So, on that note let me tell you how the radiation has impacted me. After I had the week of daily IV fluids we thought we'd try a week without and that lasted 4 days before I got dehydrated again. Not because I don't want to drink but because it is painful. If you've ever had strep throat multiply it by 100 and that's what my throat feels like. Swallowing a small drink of fluids was like trying to convince myself to stick a needle in my eye. So Monday morning I called and they started me on a liter of IV fluids every day before my radiation and also on weekends when I don't get radiation. It does make me feel better and my main concern is my kidneys. Knowing the chemo is nephrotoxic and dehydration can also lead to kidney failure I must protect my kidneys. I DO NOT want to be a dialysis patient. Dr. Rine's PA asked me if I had been offered a PEG tube (feeding tube). I'm not going there unless I have no choice.

I have also developed mucositis which is inflammation of the mucous membranes in my mouth and throat. That's the side effect of the radiation that's causing the severe throat pain. I had a mouth rinse they prescribed at the Cancer Center called Neutrasal. Neutrasal is a supersaturated calcium phosphate rinse that is supposed to prevent mucositis. I think it worked for a while in preventing it in my mouth but not my throat. It can't be swallowed. By yesterday I had ulcers all over in my mouth, on my uvula (the hangy thing at the back), beside my teeth, on the sides of my tongue and I know it had to be the same down my throat. Dr. Rine looked in my mouth and said, "Oh yeah, that's ugly". Well, that wasn't very nice! He said I needed Stanford Suspension and he'd call it in to Wesley Pharmacy. It is a mixed concoction that varies depending on what a particular pharmacy puts in it. Some places call it "magic mouthwash". One thing it contains is xylocaine for numbing. It's the consistency of syrup and you swish it all around making sure it gets on all the ulcers and then swallow it. No eating or drinking for 30 minutes. Well, it seems to be helping with the pain. But I am still only able to swallow water and milkshakes. I'm very hungry and the other night I found myself watching Food Network when it occurred to me it was torture so I changed back to HGTV. I want a steak, salad and a big baked potato in a bad way.

I've had 3 really BAD headaches in the past week, one on Saturday resulted in vomiting which sure didn't feel good on my throat but it did help my head. Dr. Rine's PA thinks they are tension headaches and I agree. Probably tension from food withdrawal! Brandi and my mom have been very helpful in relieving my headaches. My mom knows how to apply pressure to pressure points which actually works. And Brandi gives a mean back and shoulder rub. Also, on Saturday I had a one-hour full body massage. Saturday evening at the mall I had a 20-minute foot massage. Awesome!! If I won the lottery I would have my own personal masseuse on staff.

Monday I had labs drawn and the results aren't yet posted on my Cancer Center portal which means Dr. Page, my oncologist, hasn't released them. I have an appointment to see him tomorrow so maybe he's waiting for that. Hmm, makes me kind of concerned. I really want to see my lab results, especially to look at my kidney function.

Hopefully I'll start feeling better so I can update more often. I have visitors coming by this weekend and overnight visitors coming next week which really gives me something to look forward to. Thanks for all the thoughts, emails and calls from everyone. It helps more than I can tell you!