Month: February 2008

cisplatin, sinuses, sound, tinnitusLeave a comment

Cisplatin and tinnitus

rbspecht

One thing that I haven’t mentioned over the past few days that should be noted is the effect of Cisplatin (the chemo therapy drug) on my ears. Tinnitus. Since last Friday (yes, it took two days to manifest itself) I feel like its always the day after a big rock concert. My ears are lightly full of white noise, punctuated by high pitch whines. Physical pressure changes from the weather, wandering from room to room, just a subtle change in altitude up and down a hill can make a difference as to what I hear and experience. Certain metallic sounds … Continue reading Cisplatin and tinnitus

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Another day’s delay…

rbspecht

I guess that even the cancer centres have to make arrangements for maintenance issues… The tomograph machine that is being used to provide my radiation therapy is being shut down for a day’s worth of maintenance tomorrow. Sure, I can always use the extra day for my skin to recover from the low level burns, but it does add another day to my schedule.Damn. Continue reading Another day’s delay…

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"You’ll always have more hair than I…"

rbspecht

…words from the very balding Dr. Jha, the radiation oncologist in charge of my radiation therapy as he listened, patiently, to my litany of complaints late this morning. I was complaining about my beard having been burned out, and off, the thinning hair at the back of my head down to the base of my neck. We get time with him once a week (unless we need more) to discuss the effects of the radiation. Today I did throw in some additional stuff about the fatigue that seems to be a direct result of last week’s chemo therapy session. We … Continue reading "You’ll always have more hair than I…"

Akabutu's Mouthwash, cancer, cisplatin, hiccups, oropharyngeal, vomitingLeave a comment

White Noise…

rbspecht

Sometimes a bit of white noise in the background is more comforting than silence. I haven’t written in a week, through a week that had promised all sorts of challenge. I’m sure that some of you who check in regularly may be concerned. Don’t be. All things are moving forward nicely… little to no problems. The major challenge is that a change to the anti-nausea drugs is making me very lethargic… down right sleepy, really. I am not sick. I am not spewing everywhere and everything as I did last time. We even seemed to have gotten the hiccups under … Continue reading White Noise…

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Half Way Through the Radiation…

rbspecht

Today marked the 16th radiation treatment, which I’m calling half-way. Whoo-hooo!Ya, I know… there are 31 treatments scheduled, but, really, how you do count half a treatment? Just go with it, okay?I am sporting the ‘sunburn’ effect of the radiation in good ol’ farmer fashion. The burn starts high on my cheeks and tracks down to my neck and kinda tapers off below the shirt neckline. Gee, what an interesting way to get the burn without 8 hours on a tractor…My hair definitely is beginning to go… the drain in the shower is testament to the effects of the therapies. … Continue reading Half Way Through the Radiation…

Akabutu's Mouthwash, hydrozone, lidocaineLeave a comment

"Surgery is easy. The rest is hard."

rbspecht

I guess that I’m kinda falling behind on the reporting, here… my brother dropped by after work with a contribution for the ‘fridge (beef stroganoff… I’m looking forward to that!) and mentioned that he’d had a look at the blog. He seems to be in agreement with my assessment about the contribution to fatigue that my lack of exercise may be making. Now that we’re not virtual prisoners because of the extreme cold, I need to start to address that. Hell, we’ve got access to this multi-million dollar gym and pool, I’m paying the monthly fees, and I never go. … Continue reading "Surgery is easy. The rest is hard."

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Update…

rbspecht

We’re now eleven (11) days into radiation therapy for my oropharyngeal carcinoma. Well, that should probably read as ‘eleven treatments’. We started the treatments on January 25, 2008 and yesterday, Friday, February 8, 2008 was the eleventh treatment. I do get weekends and holidays off… The final radiation treatment day is scheduled for March 11, 2008, which will give us a total of 31 sessions.I’m finding that the radiation is, in concert with the ongoing effects of the chemo, tiring me out far more than I expected. After having done some research on the topic, I believe that I have … Continue reading Update…

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Cycles and rhythms…

rbspecht

We should probably all stop and reflect, for a moment, on the rhythms that make up our lives, that guide and direct our choices and interactions, paying special attention to the outside forces that push and pull us in different directions, often into corners for us to fight our way out of, or that leave us stranded in the middle of wide open expanses, desperate for some sort of signpost to point us forward…Today is Day Eight of the chemo/radiation cycle. And this morning, I actually feel pretty good. Slightly annoyed by the fact that butter slathered, maple syrup dripping … Continue reading Cycles and rhythms…