It never ends starting Radiation Therapy next week

charley0419

All I can say is.thank God my wife’s not in bad stage yet as we starting 6 weeks 5x a week Radiation Therapy has to be fitted for mask today, cancer is in top of nose PTSCAN shows no advance.

harshedbuzz

@charley0419

Good luck today. I hope things go smoothly.

HB

charley0419

Like I said my wife not that bad yet. Repeating things confused at times no cooking 2 yrs but everything else she’s fine and no driving

charley0419

What a day yesterday it took them over 1 1 1/2 hrs to be fitted for eyeless mask. She came out looking lost when she saw me she brightened up , nice feeling, if she was in a more advanced state don't know what would happen

Jgirl57

So sorry you and your wife are needing to go through this. No real way to make the radiation treatments fun, but maybe a special beverage ( fancy ice tea)or sweet after each treatment ( small Hersey kiss). Hugs that all goes well

Emily 123

Hi charley,

A lot of times staff will be willing to let you sit with your wife during things like that. Even though it may say 'dementia' on her chart, that's not specific enough for staff to know that she could benefit from you being near. As you may be finding out, people may not fully understand how much a person with dementia looks to their primary caregiver for orientation.

Try telling them that she has dementia, and that you'll be happy to sit with her while she waits to help keep her oriented. They'll often expedite getting you back to be with her, as in the long run it's more soothing for her. The worst they can tell you each time is 'no', so it can't hurt to ask.

easy23

Good luck Charley! Keep us posted!

M1

Hope you got off to an okay start?

charley0419

Starting Monday

charley0419

What a first day for my poor DW, the mask they put on her to protect face and keep her still was so tight that left "waffle" kind of marks on face. She was not happy about this but didn't say one wirdvthe whole 45 min. Going back today hope they make mask fit better as she won't do this if face keeps greeting marks on. She's vain but thank God she has kept her cool. 1 down 29 to go.

Jgirl57

I will be keeping you and your DW in my thoughts as these days go by. I would imagine after a few sessions it could get to be a tedious routine. One day at a time…..

charley0419

Let's see what today brings as in her defense the mask made marks and if he doesn't make lose today OH Boy!!

and to be honest my DW is not bad. Memory loss confused can be nasty but usually my fault. But I know can change in a day

charley0419

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/196866#Comment_196866

Funny you say that I've told most of staff I meet and made them put in chart but whoever doesn't know it's hard at first to tell as she hides well. But yes always wants me with her but told her can't go in when they do radiation

JDancer

I believe a tight fit on the mask is needed to prevent movement. The radiation needs to target the cancer without damaging additional tissue

charley0419

She keeps telling them she won't move I explained if you do it's issue. Yesterday went great 31 more to go.

SusanB-dil

Glad yesterday went so well. I know you are just plugging along, there. Make sure you get some time for yourself, please.