The Taber Family Blog

I had my appointment with my radiologist today. It was initially a consultation, but we were able to start the preparation work as well. This is a good thing, because lately I’ve been feeling like this whole process has been crawling along at a pathetically slow pace. I’m ready to start this process and I’m tired of waiting!

Today’s meeting with Dr. Chris Jones was great. He had a lot of really good information about what seems to work and what doesn’t with cancer at various stages. Not only with radiation, but with the entire regimen of treatment options available. Today was the first time I heard that chemo using Erbitux should probably be what I choose. Even better, it was the first time a doctor told me my treatment options are ultimately my choice.  Very cool.  Anyway, Dr. Jones told me the use of Erbitux/Cetuximab has been seen as very effective for stage II head and neck cancer, in combination with radiation, and without the horrible short and long term side effects. Erbitux does have some side effects of its own, including skin rashes and acne, but I can certainly handle that.  Dealing with potential nerve damage, kidney damage, hearing loss and many other well documented side effects of cisplatin is something I would like to avoid. Additionally Erbitux doesn’t give the patient nearly the level of chronic nausea either. All good news. I was concerned about the cost of Erbitux, but Dr. Jones says it’s an FDA approved drug and my HMO would cover it. Whew.

We also talked about the short term effects of radiation, including the facial sun burn, scarring of the skin in my neck and the need to really take care of my teeth. He reminded me that I would need to treat my teeth with flouride before bed for the rest of my life. Denise will certainly have all the “tools” to help my short term skin problems. Thanks MK!

One other point we covered was the dreaded feeding tube. He actually recommended against having one, since chronic reliance on the PEG tube can lead to your muscle forgetting how to swallow. Try it yourself. When you swallow, there are so many muscles involved. Lots in your throat, but others even near your ears and jaw. It’s a complicated process. So he says to try as many ways possible to avoid having a tube, but if you must, force yourself to swallow often with small amounts of water, no matter how much your mouth hurts.

After our conversation about treatment options, we decided to move ahead with the preparation and scan simulation, so when Dr. Woolf and  Dr. Kaplan decide whether my tumor is well or poorly differentiated, all the preparation will have been completed to jump right into radiation and chemo. I was taken in for another CT scan, but this time, I was fitted for my own custom molded radiation mask before the scan. This CT scan will be used to exactly calibrate where to zap me later. They brought out this warm and wet mesh material, laid it over my face and pulled it down tight and held it there until it became hardened. Then the two technicians marked my face and neck with pens, took various measurements and then pulled my new mask off.

My radiation mask and x-ray

Then I got my tattoos… Two very small pin dots on both sides of my jaw line that will apparently be there forever. Cool

When we were done, I took a quick photo of the computer showing the CT image of my skull and of the new radiation mask. All in all, a very productive visit. I’m scheduled to start radiation 5 times per week on the 12th of Feb.

Let’s GO!

p.s. I’d like to give another “shout out” to my lovely princess Denise. I’m so blessed to have her come along with me on this journey. She’s truly the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow.