My Treatment Program

Following my diagnosis, I remained pretty upbeat and just wanted to get the treatment started. The sooner I start, the sooner I can get on with the rest of my life.

It didn't turn out that way.

I thought once the team of Oncologists had prepared my treatment plan, it would just be a matter of getting into it. Instead, there were more tests. Base line tests used to monitor and manage symptoms as the treatment progressed. Blood tests, swallowing tests, teeth examinations (and extractions as it turned out), vital signs observations including blood pressure, temperature and weight. Obviously all were necessary, but in my mind it was delaying what I wanted to happen - get started.

I had to wait until the new year before my program could start in earnest. Largely as a result of having teeth extracted and needing this to recover, and having a mask made. Not to mention, I wasn't the only patient and my program had to fit into the Centre's schedule. At least this allowed me to enjoy a 'normal' Christmas and I had the utmost faith in the medical staff at the Cancer Centre that the timing of my program was appropriate for me.

It is always good to hear reports of advances in medicine, and cancer treatment is no different. I had visions of being bald, pasty white and frail, but with more knowledge, I know, in my case, this is unlikely. I was selected to participate in a formal trial for a new Chemotherapy drug, Cetuximab. Apparently the side-effects are less debilitating with Cetuximab, compared to Cisplatin, the drug normally associated with combating my type of cancer. Selection in this trial gave me a bit of a lift knowing that I may not succumb to some of the more widely accepted side-effects, like losing my hair.

I believe that side-effects are more pronounced when chemo and radiation therapy are delivered concurrently, so news that the trial drug was a better alternative is welcome as my program involved concurrent treatment. My Radiation Oncologist advised that my chemo program is included to kill off any cancer cells that have not been picked up by the scans (apparently developing cancer cells need to be a certain size before they are picked up by the scan), and because radiation therapy works better for my type of cancer when performed together.

My program commences on 3rd January with my first chemo treatment. I don't know what to expect but have been provided with a lot of advice by the Doctors, Nurses and carers at the Cancer Center. Plus there is a variety of reading material to review.

Chemo continues weekly for 7 courses (weeks). During this time, I will have weekly blood tests, health checks and consultations with the trial Doctor (Medical Oncologist).

Radiation therapy begins on the 9th January and I will have this everyday except weekends and public holidays for a total of 35 treatments. I have weekly consultations with my Radiation Oncologist.

My treatment program finishes on 1st March.

The side effects of the treatment are expected to peak a week after the end of the program, after which my recovery should begin. I will have follow up appointments and be required to complete ongoing health questionnaires as part of the chemo trial for 12 months. Further scans may be required for longer to both make sure the cancer cells have been eradicated and they don't come back.