my sister had six weeks of radiotheraphy it finished two months ago why?

Question

is she still so poorly?shes lost loads of weight and is sick all the time,(shes got tongue cancer)now last week the one side of her neck has swollen up and doctors want to do another biopsy next week.like to here from people with knowledge of this cancer thanks

Answer 1

Oral cancers are the pits!

My brother was going through treatment for cancer of the tonsil at the same time I was going through breast cancer treatment.

He was far worse effected by the treatments than I was.

The radiation treatment on the neck and throat affects the salivary glands, which may never recover and also make the whole mouth and throat lining extreamly tender.

It is so hard to swallow during treatment that there is often substantial weight loss - my brother was threatened witha feeding tube and had to have IV fluids to cope.

Even after treatment is complete, healing takes many weeks ( my own radiation burns took over 3 weeks to heal) and even once they have healed you can still experience fatigue ( still an issue for me after 2.5 years, but improving all the time), The lack of saliva will still be affecting her ability to swallow.

I hope that the swelling on her neck is just a swollen gland due to an infection and not a further cancer growth.

Stay strong for your sister, she will need a strong support network to get through all this!

Answer 2

I can imagine how scary this all must be. Cancer is a mysterious thing..and doctors are STILL learning about it.

The hard thing about the therapy is that, as the previous person said, it is killing off important OTHER things that the body NEEDS to fight. It is the part of this treatment that is really challenging.

The other writer was correct. Supplements needed. Her body is totally weakened by the therapies that are trying to save her, thus it is common to continue to have other problems come up..that perhaps the body would normally be able to deal with and fight off, but since everythings been killed off (even the good bacteria and so on) then the body is open territory without protection.

*Best is if toward the end of her treatments (if they do them again), she starts to get supplements and herbs to help her body build back up, again. Western doctors might fight this a bit, but it is worth doing. A natural doc can actually do natural injections that will work faster than vitamins (which might be hard for her to take in, anyway),but you have to find a local person who can do it.

For now, getting her immunity boosted is what her body needs. The body and mind are powerful. Given some tools of strength they will fight hard to come back into balance.

Also, her state of mind will help her immunity, because stress knocks immunity down. Find a way to bring her spirits up (I am sure you have been trying that). Movies that make her laugh (though not too much tele as it doesn't allow body to repair when sick if on too much. Ironic how they are on 24 hours in some hospitals:( ) Music that is happy and makes her think of good times. Reminders of healthier times..objects, pictures and so on. Sometimes, people start to get really pulled down by disease..even when they are smiling for you.. Be real with her, hug her a lot, if you can.. and remind her that there IS going to be a day..when she isn't in pain, suffering and being poked and prodded.

Just listening to her (or if she isn't talking, then reading what she has to say and talking to her) is really powerful.

Keep being there for her. Go to your local health food store and ask the people at the counter what they recommend. People in these places are really educated about what they sell (in the vitamin section, not just at the cashiers or around). They may even be able to recommend someone local that would be good to connect with. You will learn a lot and no matter what..this energy you are putting into helping your sister..is giving her strength and hope.

Good luck. Trust your heart, intuition and ideas. Remember the silly ideas..are often the ones that work out the best!

Answer 3

As a cancer survivor, my heart goes out to you and your family. Treatment kills the good cells as well as the bad. The body needs time to build itself back up. The Ontcologist knows what he /she is doing. When the body can stand it, the treatments can begin again. This is the time for family and good friends support. God bless you all.

Answer 4

my aunt has non-hodgkins lymphoma. she underwent already 5 chemo sessions and recuperating then she will have her 21 scheduled radiation. she had biopsy first before the cancer treatment was administered. she took and still taking food supplement to combat the ill effects of the treatment and so far she is doing well.

honestly, you must consider food supplement to make remaining body cells strong to ward off the cancer effect. she must be given the right diet to be strong and to make her immune system stronger

Answer 5

I am sorry you are going through this..

everybody is different, but the #1 side affect from radiation is being tired.. It takes time for the side affects to wear off. give her another few weeks and hopefully she will start to regain back some of her energy.. the chemo will also make you tired..

best of luck to you and especially to your sister.