Hi Folks,
Well last week was busy. Hubby had Glasgow Dental Hospital on Tuesday - whereby it was established six teeth were required to be pulled. He then had his Mask Moulded followed by CT Planning Scan. Bless him - he is claustrophobic and had a wee panic when mask was on and he got secured to table. Nurses were excellent though and what needed to be done was completed. He had 3 teeth out on Wednesday and a further 3 out on Thursday. Back at Hospital Dentist on Monday to ensure gums are healing OK and if so - Treatment starts Monday 13th. First day is RT and Cisplatin Chemotherapy - are you allowed to have someone accompany you? He is being kept in overnight on Chemo Days. Perhaps I'll only be allowed to visit him? Poor fella's anxiety is through the roof! Aged 56 and never, ever had stress & anxiety like this in his life - perhaps he will settle a little once things start. Thank you x
Hi KKat
Has your husband asked to have eyeholes cut in his mask? Being able to see out should help reduce the claustrophobia. A mild sedative might help too but I think most people find coping strategies and settle in the end. The treatment room is usually equipped with music and he might be able to take his own. Imagine a holiday to a favourite walk helps too. I just watched fascinated as the machine went round me and the collimator leaves changed the shape of the beams....but then I'm a bit of a science nerd
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Good evening KKat, i was 48 when I had my first encounter with head and neck cancer, thankfully I did not have a computer back in 1978 so i knew nothing about chem or radiotherapy, I just thought to myself go with the flow as so many others have been through the treatment and lived to tell the tale. Once your husband starts his treatment he will begin to see that it's not as bad as it seems, I personally did not suffer that much with any side effects and thankfully I did not have to stay in overnight after my 3 doses of cisplatin, the radiotherapy does get a bit tougher as the treatment continues but the stress and anxiety should decrease it's just going into the unknown that we all worry about to a certain degree. This was the first time I had ever been in a hospital and had an operation looking back now and thinking did i really go through all of that, I strongly believe that having positive thoughts and staying focused taking one day at a time helped me no end. I'm not sure what the rules and regulations are about being with your husband during treatment but there is no harm in asking. Wishing you both all the best in the treatment, take care.
Chris x
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
