Caring4Cancer

yes I just joined the club I found out I have cancer of the tounge, and I start rediation and Cemo the 29th of this month, can anyone explain to me what Cemo will be like, I wen't for rediation allready once, but my other Dr was out of town so I couldn't go, and I am also trying to find what a pep test is, they want me to have that this tueday, I am Birmingham, ALabama by the way I am 46 my name is Polly please contax me as soon as anyone can responded thank you very much

Hello Polly,  I'm sure finding out that you have cancer has been quite an upheaval in your life and now you are wondering what are you going to have to do to get better.  Chemotherapy is drug treatment that is designed to help shrink and kill the cancer it is often used with radiation particularly with cancers of the head and neck.  Chemotherapy and radiation together can have a greater impact on the cancer.  The side effects of your drugs vary depending on the ones chosen for your treatment.  Your Doctor will chose the ones that have the best chance of getting at the cancer.  The doctor and his staff should go over the treatment and side effects of your medicines and the radiation with you and will probably give you written materials on this as well.  Once they do that and you are seeking more information the Caring for Cancer website can further enhance your knowledge about your treatments and side effects as well as your disease.  Your second question on what is a pep test is probably a pet scan.  It is like an xray that will look at your whole body to help determine if the cancer has spread elsewhere in your body.  This test helps determine the best kind of therapy to treat your disease.  I hope that this helps answer some of your questions.  Good luck.  Bernie, RN

I too have just recently been diagnosed with this nasty disease.  Lung cancer stage IIIB.  I start radiation on Monday 2 July (daily) and Chemo Tuesday (weekly).  I am kinda frustrated because I am usually pretty energetic and don't see myself weak, but am growing tired easily every day now.  Perhaps it is anxiety or stress I'm not sure.  I believe making friends on here and talking about this stuff and what were feeling and going through each day is gonna help us pull through.  By now you have had you Pet CT scan...how'd that go?

Hello pm5436 I am adriana and I would like to understand tounge cancer

can you please tell me what your symptoms were like was there any swallowing of the tounge and sensitivity to hot and spicy stuff and if it grew in size please let me know I am worried a lot about my brother and we don't have any benefits at work so we tend to overlook symptoms hoping theyll go away since medical help is expensive. please let me know thank you.

Hi Polly - I'm new to all of this myself. I was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer and just underwent my first chemo treatment February 7. Everyone is different so reactions can vary person by person. Here's what I experienced - two days later it was like being in a boxing ring and was being knocked down and I kept getting back up. Then the very next day I was down and out - didn't even care what was on TV - I was tired and had no energy. Energy loss is the biggest and most common of all symptoms. Your doctor/oncologist will give you a pamphlet explaining all the side effects - those that are common - and some uncommon. They will also indicate symptoms that you should contact them about.

I wish you the best - you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Laurie