Part 15 Signs of Remission from Throat Cancer

 

The wait to see if the Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy had sent my cancer into remission.

To be truthful after 6 weeks of chemo and radiation therapy I felt so washed out I did not put too much time into thinking if the treatment had worked or not. I had at this time instilled in my psyche
 my ONE BATTLE AT A TIME-ONE DAY AT A TIME mentality that took enough out of me. The thought of what was ahead of me didn't matter I would face it like everything else we had endured in the last couple of months -deal with "IT" when it happened!

( I still remember the endless questioning of Professor Porceddu as to what was ahead of me and what I should  expect) His ANSWER let me worry about that, just concentrate on getting through your days.

I think back and admire his approach and tack in dealing with me (I laugh now to think how it stirred me up and made me even more determined strengthening my willpower) 

Here I was 1/2 my weight from 112kg at the start to now 59Kg , not only had I lost fatty tissue but also my body had started using up my muscle tissue so that now I could not break the seal on a bottle, or able to stand up without help. I felt weak, my eyesight was blurry and I  was feeling "CLOUDY" in my mind.

The Recovery after Cancer Treatment started off badly with the now trying to exercise to bring back strength when walking up a flight of stairs with a light shopping bag I felt "woozy" and lost my balance falling backward down 5 stairs and hitting the wall. Luckily I wasn't hurt but very shaken by the experience and because I was struggling to see and walk my wife took control and made an urgent call to my Rheumatologist and off we went to see him.

My Rheumatologist who had been treating me for Rheumatoid Arthritis for 15 years, was totally shocked by my appearance as he did not know that I had been diagnosed with Throat Cancer. His immediate reaction was to delve into my medication and check my blood sugar levels.

As I had ceased all medications to stop any interference with my chemotherapy drugs, the blood test revealed an extremely high rheumatoid factor and my blood sugar was "28" (it should have been between 4 and 6) we now had the answer to the "wooziness and the poor eyesight" as both were caused by my extreme high sugar reading. The worst part was that it was caused by the Nutrient feed I was having through the nasal gastro tube! A  phone call to Professor Porceddu and back onto my previous medications which combated my rheumatoid pain and my blood sugars got lowed by medication as I slowly started to feel better.

There was only one hiccup with this transition which was that there were only 2 variations of the nasal feed at that time and when I tried the other type it would make me sick and I would be vomiting. As this was the only thing I was surviving on I had to remain on the first medication and off to the Endochronogist (diabetis Specialist) to counteract the high sugar content.

The other problem we had to address was to be careful that I did not develop bedsores because I spent day and night sitting in an armchair because of the suffocating feeling I had when I lay down.

Signs & Symptoms of Bedsores (pressure ulcers)

• Bedsores are caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. They often start as red areas of skin that later become open wounds. These sores can appear in different parts of the body, depending on where the pressure is. For people like myself in an armchair or who use a wheelchair, bedsores usually occur in the tailbone or buttocks area, shoulder blades, spine, or backs of the arms or legs. If people are confined to a bed, bedsores may occur on the back of the head, ears, shoulder blades, hips, lower back, tailbone, or the backs or sides of the knees, elbows, ankles, or toes.
• The level of pain associated with bedsores depends on whether or not there is feeling in the affected area. Bedsores occur in four stages: 
• Stage 1: The skin is pink or ashen (in darker skin colors) and may be slightly uncomfortable or tender. In individuals with darker skin colors, the area may have subtle discoloration, warmth, or a thickened area of skin.
• Stage 2: The skin is red, and swollen, and may have blisters or open sores.
• Stage 3: The sore is like a crater and extends deeper into the skin.
• Stage 4: The sore has reached deep tissue, muscle, or bone, and may have a black scab.
• It is important to prevent and treat bedsores as they can lead to serious health complications.). 
• Once again we made contact with our social worker as I was having pain and redness in the tailbone area who then supplied us with a list of home support carer groups local to my area and then came and did an assessment of my condition. My wife was quite able to care for me and Anglicare arranged for a Cushioned air support mattress for me to line my armchair and when able to do so, my bed.
• Pressure air mattress for prevention of pressure sores (bedsores)
• Once again I was so impressed by the way support was there and concerned about your wellbeing. ONCE AGAIN YOU A NOT ALONE IN DEALING WITH CANCER

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