Its been just one week since I started treatment. On the first day I had the chemo and radiation. Since then I have completed one week of the radiation treatment. The chemo hit me pretty hard the first day and has been causing some nausea. Yesterday I called the medical oncologist office and they switched me to a different drug called Zofran. (Actually the generic version)
One of the problems I have been having is getting enough calories. At first it wasn't bad but with the nausea and my taste starting to drop off it is becoming more of a challenge. I spoke with the nurse at the radiation oncologist office and the goal is to get at least 2,000 calories or more like 2,400. It is totally counter intuitive to what I have been used to. When I look at the frozen dinners at the store I look for the highest calorie count in the smallest package.
Its hard to describe what radiation treatment is like. Getting the treatment is no big deal. It takes 20 minutes or so. I am almost always in and out quickly and the people there are great. It seems that I am fine right after I get zapped but start to really fade about 5 - 6 hours afterwards and then need a few hours of down time. The next morning is when I seem to be the most productive. It appears that the body takes the biggest hit from the radiation late in the afternoon and then tries to start to recover from it overnight. Of course after each treatment the effects get progressively stronger.
Next week they are installing the PEG tube. I spoke to the radiation oncologist nurse and she was able to explain some of the details. Apparently there are two home health aide companies that they use locally and they are responsible for supplying feedings and help to support you with the tube. The nice thing is that they are on call 7x24 if needed and deliver to your house.
One thing we are doing is getting everything centralized on one floor. We just ordered a futon for my office and this will let me stay just on the first floor for the most part. It helps because the food, bathroom and just an area to wander around in if I am up at night is right there without going up and down stairs all the time and waking up everyone else in the house. I was crashing on the couch in the family room but long term that would be too disruptive to the kids. We had been thinking of getting a futon for the basement anyway so when this is done it will go down there.
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2 comments:
Hello from Denver. Thanks for the ongoing reports which are very helpful to us. We are sending you our very best wishes as you march through these treatments. If you are still planning on trying tea Oolong and white tea are mild yet satisfying!!
Dawn, Bill, Eliza, Aidan
Tom:
Good morningfrom Venice. We arrived here yesterday from Florence and are staying in the old part of Venice.
Last night we survived taking 10 people on the water boat to the Hotel Bellini.
Our plan is to bring some pasta back for the boys - sorry no pizza.
Remember one week down and six to go. We will talk to you when we get back to the states.
Love,
Mom and Dad
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