Hi all,
Hope you are coping with this heat. I'm based in the concrete jungle of London so it's fairly stuffy here.
My dad (SCC T0N1M0 HPV+) completed 30 sessions of radiotherapy almost 6 weeks ago and we were really hoping for a feeling of improvement in his symptoms, but it feels like there are still constant hurdles to jump.
My dad is a widower and lives alone, I'm an only child and I am his only support and I try and visit everyday, but we are both struggling mentally to keep positive. I am due back to work next week and not sure dad will be well enough for me to go back?? he has some neighbours who phone up, but it really falls to me.
He has stopped taking morphine and the pain in his mouth and throat, as well his skin, has improved massively- so feeling very grateful for this. However, the feeling of nausea, weakness, tiredness, light headedness, dizziness is really debilitating and is making it hard to push on with eating, regaining weight and it's taking its toll on his mental wellbeing. It is also making it hard to go out for walks, so he is pretty much stuck in his flat and is just watching TV all day...
He had bowel cancer in 2008, and thankfully he was cured, however, the long term effects of that lasted for many many years on his mental wellbeing. He has now been referred for counselling so I am hoping that will help.
He ended up in A&E last week due to feeling faint and having chest pains. They did a number of tests (ECG, chest x ray, blood tests) but could not find the cause. The specialist head and neck nurses have handed us back to the GP, but I have asked for a macmillan nurse and I think they will visit tomorrow. The dietician will phone him in a month. he is drinking 6 ensures a day, but isn't having anything else. It's hard not to worry about the dizziness etc. he is taking cyclizine 3 x day (for last 3 weeks) and half a levomepromazine tablet before bed. (he started taking this last Thurs). Dd anyone suffer nausea post radiotherapy? what medication seemed to help?
he has his scans in September to see if the treatment has worked.. I am finding it hard to keep the thought out of my mind that neither he nor me will be able to tackle what comes next if it hasn't worked.. I feel I need to be strong for dad, but feel tearful and am crying most days.
thanks,
Kelly
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Good evening Kelly, I'm afraid i don't know what all those letters and numbers mean but i know what it's like during recovery, i cannot understand why they have handed it back to your dad's GP as it seems too early to me. I know a lot of these symptoms are due to the side effects, i would also try and get in contact with his dietician as maybe a change of food supplement might help his nausea, i dont know what the side effects are for the drugs he is taking so it might be worth having a chat with his GP or whoever prescribed the drugs as it could be causing the drowsiness, lightheadedness etc. I know its not easy but try and remain positive as im sure everything will all come together once these issues have been sorted. Please ask the Macmillan nurse tomorrow about getting further help for your dad once you are at work as he should be entitled to having a carer. Its great he is seeing a councillor as i found it quite helpful, also you must look after yourself as cancer affects not just the patient but the people who are carers or close family. I hope you both start to see signs of improvement very soon, wishing you all the best,take care.
Chris x
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
