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It never ends starting Radiation Therapy next week

charley0419
charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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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.

Comments

  • harshedbuzz
    harshedbuzz Member Posts: 4,581
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    @charley0419

    Good luck today. I hope things go smoothly.

    HB

  • charley0419
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    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
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    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
    Jgirl57 Member Posts: 511
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    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
    Emily 123 Member Posts: 831
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    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
    easy23 Member Posts: 220
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    Good luck Charley! Keep us posted!

  • M1
    M1 Member Posts: 6,788
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    Hope you got off to an okay start?

  • charley0419
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    Starting Monday

  • charley0419
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    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
    Jgirl57 Member Posts: 511
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    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
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    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
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    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
    JDancer Member Posts: 473
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    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
    charley0419 Member Posts: 386
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    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
    SusanB-dil Member Posts: 1,204
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    Glad yesterday went so well. I know you are just plugging along, there. Make sure you get some time for yourself, please.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more