Hi , My Dad has recently been diagnosed with throat cancer.He has just had his first bout of Chemo and has been at home for 2 weeks .I have left my home to look after him as he has a feeding machine from 7pm to 7 am.He is due his 2nd sesion of chemo on Monday but has just been taken into hospital due to a bad blood sample.They have detected a possible infection and are not too happy with his temperature.The blood sample taken today has shown signs of nutrifend /nutripend????Does anyone know what this is.They have put Dad on a course of anti biotics and hope to kill the infection before his next treatment.I have been told by the head nurse that Dads tumour is of the large variety and that his chances are 50 -50 .I am so scared and have found it very difficult to get any information from the doctors.When Dad left hospital i was told that we would have a MacMillan Nurse contact us but we have heard nothing and i feel that since Dad left hospital we have been left to our own devies. Is this common ????After Dad has had the Chemo i have been told that he will have Radiotherapy for 4 to 6 weeks every day /. What is this like and how bad is it????Good luck to all of you and I hope and pray for everysingle one of you .GOD BLESS.If you can help me with any information i would be extremely gratefull.Thanks Jim xx

Dear Jim, Wellcome. You are going through a very worrying time just now, with so much to think about. I have been caring for my Husband for the last 6 months following his surgery & chemo/radiotherapy for Tonsil cancer, so lets see if I can help you.
Chemotherapy treatment can cause a fall in the levels of White blood cells in the body (the ones which fight infection) this is why the Docs. check your Dads blood & keep an eye on his Temperature This type of infection is called a Neutropenic infection.

The message to the McMillan nurse may have gone astray. Your Dads GP practice/district nurse should be able to tell you where they are based, there may even be a Mcmillan centre near you where you can visit.Once they know about you they will not leave you unsupported.Phone them.

Is your Dad being treated at an Oncology centre? If so there will be a team working together which may include a Cancer nurse practioner who can answer your questions.Your oncologists secretary will be able to tell you how to contact her/him.

I'm sorry you have been left to your own devices at this time when there so many people who can help. Dont be afraid to phone up any of the people involved with your Dads care, explain you'r his carer & ask as many questions as you need to.Does his GP know he has been home for 2 weeks ? Ask for a home visit if you need one.
Take care of yourself, you both have a tiring journey ahead, but the people on this forum will support you all the way, Allthe best to you both.

Re Radiotherapy.
Has anyone explained the planning stage to you?
Go to:www.scan.scot.nhs.uk
Click on: patients,families & carers
Click on"treatment", then take the virtual tour. Or try this direct link to it. Hope this helps.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Dear Fran ,Thankyou so much for your reply,it was a sight for sore eyes and a breath of fresh air.The information you sent is of a great help and yes i garee with you that i think we have been missed somewhere along the line.I did take Dad to the Doctors this week as his lips are really sore .The doctor gave him some anitbiotic cream but when i asked him about Dads soreness around the pegg line his words were "You'll have to ask the hospital i know nothing about pegg lines.!!!!I asked him if he could prescibe some pain killers but no he would not as he does not know what the hospital would want.I do feel a bit of push me pull me where the doctor and hospitall are concerned.The district nurse asked for some saline wash and caps for the picc line and referred me to the hospital.I went to the hospital and they referred me to the doctors.I went to the doctors and he didn't know which one they wanted.Back on the merry go round.
How is your Husband getting on .? I do hope he is getting better.Thanks again for your support and help.Jim

Hi Jim, Just completed a reply to you, & lost it into the ether, so here goes again!
How are you both today? I was sad to hear you are having the runaround from the medical services at a time when you are in emotional turmoil.
Is your Dad still in Hospital, or is he going back tomorrow for Chemo?. That would be a good opportunity to ask for more information about his Consultant team, & among other things, their policy on analgesia.
Where will he be having his Radiotherapy? ( if you accessed the Scan website you will have realised I left out a step after Pts/ relatives/ carers, you had to click on Head & Neck before treatment. Sorry!)

My Hubby is slowly improving, its been a hard journey, very scary at times but we are now seeing light at the tunnels' end.We have been very lucky as the Oncology unit & the wards are in the same hospital. the Consultants & the Multidisciplinery team work together & I was able to access any one of them whenver I needed (and I did, many times) They never allowed him
to have any pain at any time , the analgesia was stepped up as required.
We also have a very supportive Gp practice so as you can see we have been very fortunate in many ways.
I hope you will soon have the help you need, at least we didnt have a Picc line as well as a Peg! Best wishes for tommorow, we are thinking of you

Hi Fran, Sorry not to reply sooner but no PC at Dads.Dad is now at home but was not able to have the Chemo due to the low blood cells.Dad was so pleased to get out .Unfortunately i have had to come home due to having a cold .Luckily my brother John who is a teacher is on half term and has come up from Portsmouth to stay with Dad.It's a nightmare making sure Dad is not exposed to germs etc etc.So i am in quarantine.It's horrible not being able to see Dad but i'd never forgive myself if he caught an infection from me.The website for the radiotherapy was very informative ,Thanks .Dad's next bout of Chemo is lined up for next Monday all summising that the blood test is good on the Friday.Thanks again for your kindness and care.
Take care of yourselves
Jim