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How do I go through 6 weeks radiation and chemotherapy, alone?
Thyroid Cancer | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (51)Comment receiving replies
Update from OP. I just completed week 4 of daily radiation and chemo. The radiation oncologist stated they are radiating my entire thyroid bed (thyroidectomy and neck dissection to remove 2 lymph nodes at base of neck). They are also radiating my trachea where the remaining cancer is.
I have zero side effects- except extreme pain in my throat. Razor blade throat and throat on fire.
I am not going to list all side effects here that are possible, I dont have any. I am not even tired.
So...the pain. The chemo team is in charge of pain (not radiology). Not sure why.
I only need pain meds to swallow. Otherwise, I just walk around with a sore throat. Level 8. I spit the mucous out, so I don't have to swallow it.
I am on tylenol max 3000 mg a day.
We tried 5mg oxy but I had a reaction. So we stopped.
Now we are trying gabapentin. I refused fentanol.
Tylenol works, it's just not great for your liver.
My goal isn't low pain. With pain at 4 or 5, I can swallow the liquid diet, wincing as I go. Water is really difficult.
My diet is Kate Farms 3 x day.
My labs are good.
They will do IV hydration for week 5 and week 6.
Everyone be well. If something is not working, try something else. Ask for help. If you are in pain, let the team know.
Kathy
Replies to "Update from OP. I just completed week 4 of daily radiation and chemo. The radiation oncologist..."
ohhhh how painful for you.
how about asking your pain team for this :Oral lidocaine, often referred to as "viscous lidocaine," is a common treatment option for radiation esophagitis, providing topical anesthetic relief to the inflamed esophageal lining, helping to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with swallowing difficulty caused by radiation therapy.
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Kathy, Sounds like you are handling it well and No feeding tube? 20 rounds down? I assume you are still driving yourself to treatment? Your symptoms are very close to what mine were. I managed to deal with the throat pain but needed Tylenol or Oxy to help get a meal down. All I really tried to do was get down good protein and maintain my weight. Hang in there and keep fighting. It will get a little worse up to about 3 weeks after final treatment but you can do it. Today about 18 months out I am back to about 90% with Clean scans. God speed.