My husband had so much success with his first round treatment of his base of tongue cancer.
He had cisplatin chemo and radiation. He did get a feeding tube which he only used about the last three weeks of treatment.
During that time, he still was able to swallow and eat some.
He did so well that we took the tube out in December.
Then he had a scan in April. A tiny spot in his neck, long story short he had 9 lymph glands taken out in his neck and a bit of tissue that had cancer in it.
They just weren't sure so he went back for 18 days of twice a day for mild radiation and three erbitux.
Then it happened. He kept coughing while eating and drinking.
Swallow test Wednesday... they stopped it. Aspirating. Tech says don't drink or eat until you get a tube.
Go back Friday morning, get a tube, can't "eat" until Sat.
We were pros at the tube feeding so I ordered my own formula ( much cheaper than through hospital).
He got diarrhea then bloody diarrhea.
This is his 10th day of bloody foul diarrhea.
Had a GI panel - no c. diff or any other bacteria or virus detected
Then went to oncologist p.a. She says since he took 2 kinds of antibiotics for the erbitux rash, then had chemo and radiation that it will take time. Continue an aggressive course of Imodium.
He has no fever, no cramps, no pain.
Tomorrow I'm going to call and have them schedule some sort of scope. I insisted on a gastroenterologist referral and was told one was made.
Cancer treatments are over and they say they are optimistic he is finished.... but now it's the damn side effects!!
Poor guy wants to go back to work, but he is a house painter at rich people's houses and he said no way is he going to take the chance.
Of course we can't anyway because of all the appointments we have.
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